Growing demand of Chilean fruits in India

Apr 30, 2021

With the objective of promoting India’s imports of fresh fruits, dry fruits, wines and gourmet products from Chile, World Trade Center Mumbai in association with ProChile (trade office of Chile in India) organized a webinar on ‘Import Opportunities from Chile’.

Highlighting the benefits of doing business with Chile, Ms. Marcela Zuñiga, Trade Commissioner of Chile in India, ProChile said, Chilean economy is export-oriented, offers a touristic experience, is committed to environmental protection, has world-class connectivity, and is transparent and competitive. Chile is also a reliable investment partner, offers seamless connectivity and infrastructure, provides an attractive business environment, promotes healthy competition, and has an efficient tax system.

Ms. Zuñiga further remarked that Chile is a global leader in the fresh fruit sector. Chile is blessed with a favorable climate for growing fresh fruits, has high quality standards, and offers controlled phytosanitary compliance. Chile has a competitive advantage in the production of fresh fruits, the government offers concessions to the sector and exporters can boast of a consistent supply.

Chilean fruits in demand in India include apples, blue berries, kiwis, cherries, avocados and fresh plums. Future potential imports include pears, grapes, citrus fruits like lemon, mandarin, and raspberries. Indian importers can look at Chile for a counter-seasonal supply of these fruits.

Current Chilean dry fruits in demand in India include inshell walnuts. Dry fruits having future import potential include dried prunes, almonds, raisins, hazel nuts and chest nuts. Chile is also famous for its red and white wines. Attributes of Chilean wines include variety and diversity, presence of favorable climatic conditions and high quality, and affordability.

In her remarks, Ms. Rupa Naik, Senior Director, World Trade Center Mumbai said, Chile is one of the leading exporters of walnuts in the world. India imported about USD 27 million worth of walnuts from Chile in 2020, constituting about one-third of India’s imports of walnuts from the world in 2020.

Chile is also a leading exporter of fresh apples in the world. India imported about USD 21 million worth of fresh apples from Chile in 2020, equalling about 20,000 tonnes. This constituted about 10 per cent of India’s imports of fresh apples from the world in 2020. India also imported about USD 19 million worth of kiwi fruit from Chile, equalling about 11,000 tonnes in 2020. This constituted over one-fourth of India’s imports of kiwi fruit from the world in 2020.

India imported about USD 5 million or 10,000 tonnes of hulled, pearled, sliced or kibbled oats from Chile in 2020, constituting about half of its imports from the world. It also imported about USD 1 million worth of wine of fresh grapes from Chile in 2020, constituting about 7 per cent of its wine imports from the world.

Ms. Naik opined, World Trade Center Mumbai and ProChile play an active role in facilitating trade between the two countries to help businesses explore the growing merchandise opportunities and gain from synergies in trade.

The programme offered B2B match-making opportunities for businesses from both sides.