India - Emerging market for Chilean fruits & wines

Chile was the first country in South America to sign a preferential trade agreement with India in 2005. However, bilateral trade between both countries has remained stagnant around USD 2.5 billion in the last decade.

There is untapped trade potential in mineral ores, agro products, engineering goods and consumer goods between India and Chile. In order to explore the trade potential in agro products, especially in fresh fruits and marine products, WTC Mumbai and ProChile jointly organized an interactive webinar titled ‘Commercial Virtual Session 2.0’.

Speaking on this occasion, Ms. Marcella Zuniga, Trade Commissioner, ProChile remarked, “There has been remarkable growth in export of fresh fruits from Chile in recent months as Chile offers best quality fruits preferred by Indian consumers. I am confident that in the years to come we will see further growth in the consumption of Chilean agro products in India.”

Earlier in her welcome remarks, Ms. Rupa Naik, Executive Director, MVIRDC WTC Mumbai pointed out the need to expand the scope of the current trade agreement between both countries by bringing more products under the list. She remarked, “Out of more than 5,000 traded products, hardly 2800 products are included in the current trade agreement. So, the list of goods eligible for preferential market access can be expanded under this agreement. Also, we can promote exports and imports through e-commerce under this agreement.”

In his remarks, Ms. Valentina Munoz, Director, Aurora Australis highlighted the growing export ofKiwis, apples, blueberries, cherries, plums, grapes and pears from Chile to India. She mentioned that demand for other Chilean fruits such as lemon, oranges and avocadoes is also growing in India.

Mr. Pedro Monti, Director, Chilenuts pointed out thatChile grows a wide variety of fresh fruits and dry fruits across eight regions. Chilean area under walnut cultivation has grown 200 times in the last decade and India is an emerging destination for Chilean walnut.

He further remarked, “Since 2021, Chile offers walnuts of high quality, preffered size and colour and hence is its the topmost exporter to India. Also the counter season cropping cycle of Chilean walnut is harvested in March-April and it gets ready for export to India during the festive season ahead of Diwali.”

Mr. Monti informed that his organization Chilenuts spent 50% of its marketing budget for 2021-22 in the Indian market, given the huge untapped export potential to India.

Mr. Rodrigo Sierra, Regional Managing Director-Asia, Acqua Chile, explained the key trends in marine products exports. He said, “Salmon accounts for 5% of sea food industry in the country. Large trout, Atlantic salmon, Coho salmon and fillet are some of the other sea foods farmed and exported from Chile.

Mr. Fernando Diaz, Director, Wines of Chile whilespeaking about the potential of wine exports from Chile pointed out, “Chile is the wine producing paradise in the world because of its rich mountain range, tropical diversity and also its adherence to climate-friendly sustainable agro practices. Around 74% of wine in Chile is produced using red grapes, while white grapes is the ingredient for the remaining 26% of wine.”

Mr. Diaz concluded his remarked by informing that Chilean wine exports to India doubled in the last three years and it is expected to maintain this strong growth momentum in the Indian market in the coming years as well.

The session was attended by members of trade and industry from Chile and India.