Argentina: low volumes compared to last year, but quality ensures exports

22 Jan 2025
1582

“It will be difficult for the cherry exports to exceed the 7,000 tons reached last season,” said Aníbal Caminiti, general director of the Argentine Chamber of Integrated Cherry Producers (CAPCI), with a certain resignation, when asked about the evolution of the campaign. Not by chance, at the beginning of the harvest, it was expected that external placements of this product could reach the 8,000-ton threshold.

But the Chubut harvest failed, and estimates predicted that this season would bring just over 1,800 tons of cherries to the international market. “The damage caused by hail and the unusual rainfall ended up affecting more than 50% of the total harvest in Chubut. This scenario was not in anyone’s plans,” Caminiti confided.

During the last season, cherry exports almost reached 7,200 tons, and by the end of December this year, they had settled at 6,000 tons.

“We will have a record production in Río Negro, relatively normal in Neuquén and Mendoza, but we will suffer a strong drop in Chubut, which limits the last stage of exports of the system,” added the CAPCI manager.

When asked about the price crisis observed for cherries in the Chinese market, the businessman assured that it did not affect the Argentine offer, as many of the early fruits were distributed to other markets, maintaining high prices compared to those in China.

“Unlike Chile, which had quality problems in its exportable offer, our fruit was in high demand because it was of excellent quality,” explained Caminiti. He added that a significant percentage of the exports consisted of early cherries, meaning they entered the market when it was relatively “clean.” On the other hand, not much fruit was destined for the Chinese market. “We don’t have a commercial dependency on China like Chile,” he added.

As a reference, by the first week of 2025, the neighboring country had exported about 550,000 tons of cherries, of which around 510,000 (93%) were destined for the Chinese market.

“This season will not be negative for Argentine exporters. Prices have remained stable thanks to the quality of the cherries. We lacked volume, which unfortunately affected the producers in Chubut,” Caminiti confided at the end of the conversation.

Source: Más Producción
Image:  Más Producción


Cherry Times - All rights reserved

What to read next

Propagation of GiSelA 5 rootstock: which method to choose to optimize its performance in cherry orchards

Nurseries

14 Jan 2025

A recent study from Poland compared two propagation methods for GiSelA 5: the use of stem cuttings and the in vitro method, evaluating their impact on tree growth, particularly on the varieties “Bellise”, “Earlise”, “Lapins”, and “Vanda”.

New rootstock trials at the Mach Foundation

Rootstocks

16 Jun 2023

Cherry cultivation in Trentino Alto Adige represents a small part of the national panorama, with an area of about 250 ha; however, it represents an interesting crop for provincial fruit growing and has spread in some hill areas with altitudes ranging from 200 m asl to 900 m asl.

In evidenza

Star Produce will be offering Canadian cherries from June to September

Production

08 Jun 2026

Star Produce will bring Just Picked British Columbia cherries to North America, Asia and Europe from late June. Supported by spring crop recovery, the season is set to deliver larger sizes, premium quality, solid export demand and higher volumes than the past two years.

Prolonged rainfall could further reduce the sweet cherry harvest in Moldova, which has already been damaged by frost

Production

08 Jun 2026

Prolonged rains in Moldova are worsening the sweet cherry season: after spring frost hit Kordia, Regina and Ferrovia, fruit quality, yields and 2026 exports also face fresh pressure, while small growers deal with fruit cracking, lower marketability and weaker local prices.

Tag Popolari