Arabfields, Naïla Mokhtari, Special Economic Correspondent, São Paulo, Brazil — Chile’s table grape industry has revised its export outlook after a season marked by unfavorable weather and shifting production patterns, highlighting the challenges facing one of the country’s most important agricultural sectors.
Industry representatives now estimate that Chile will export about 62.2 million boxes of fresh table grapes during the 2025 and 2026 marketing season, down 8.4% from the previous campaign. The adjustment reflects lower than expected production in northern growing regions, where adverse weather and the gradual replacement of older grape varieties have reduced available volumes.
Growers across the country have faced difficult conditions in recent months. While producers continue investing in modern grape varieties that offer stronger yields and greater consumer appeal, many vineyards remain in transition. The replacement process has improved fruit quality, but it has not yet fully compensated for declining output from traditional vineyards.
“We’ve invested heavily in new vineyards, but these changes take time before they reach full production,” said one grower from central Chile, reflecting the concerns shared across the sector. Export companies have also reported increased efforts to maintain quality standards despite the smaller harvest.
The latest figures show that new grape varieties now represent approximately 72% of Chile’s export production, illustrating the industry’s rapid modernization. White seedless varieties continue to gain popularity in international markets, while several older red varieties continue to lose market share.
North America remains Chile’s largest destination for table grapes, although shipments to the region are expected to decline slightly compared with last season. Exports to Asia and Europe are also forecast to soften, while Latin America has emerged as the only major market showing stronger demand during the current campaign.
The revised forecast comes as exporters continue adapting to changing climate conditions and evolving consumer preferences. Industry leaders believe that the ongoing shift toward premium grape varieties will strengthen Chile’s competitiveness once the transition is complete.
Looking ahead, market analysts expect exports to gradually recover over the next few seasons as newly planted vineyards reach full productivity and modern varieties account for an even larger share of production. If weather conditions remain favorable, Chile’s table grape industry could stabilize export volumes while improving fruit quality and increasing its presence in high value international markets.
