""

Voluntary Report - public distribution

**Date:** 11/17/2003

**GAIN Report Number:** CI3031

CI3031

**Chile**

**Tree Nuts**

**Almond Production**

**2003**

**Approved by:**

![](media/image1.wmf)Christine M. Sloop, Agricultural Attaché

U.S. Embassy Santiago

**Prepared by:**

Luis Hennicke, Agricultural Specialist

**Report Highlights:**

Almond production in Chile has been growing slowly but steadily for the
last 6 years. It is expected that it will expand further in the coming
years with the exception of CY2004, as a large production area was
reportedly affected by heavy frost during this last winter.

Includes PSD Changes: No

Includes Trade Matrix: No

Unscheduled Report

Santiago \[CI1\]

\[CI\]

Table of Contents

[Production 3](#production)

[Crop Area 3](#crop-area)

[Trade 3](#trade)

[Table 1: Almond Production Statistics
3](#table-1-almond-production-statistics)

[Table 2: Almond Exports CY2002 4](#table-2-almond-exports-cy2002)

[Shelled 4](#shelled)

[In Shell 4](#in-shell)

[Table 3: Almond Exports CY2001 5](#table-3-almond-exports-cy2001)

[Shelled 5](#shelled-1)

[In Shell 5](#in-shell-1)

[Table 4: Almond Exports CY2000 6](#table-4-almond-exports-cy2000)

[Shelled 6](#shelled-2)

[In Shell 6](#in-shell-2)

[Table 5: Almond Imports (Shelled) in Kg.
7](#table-5-almond-imports-shelled-in-kg.)

# Production

As a result of a moderate expansion in the almond planted area during
the last 6 years, production is expected to expand in the coming years.
But frost that affected an extended planted area during late winter,
mainly in Region VI (Rancagua), is expected to reduce output in CY2004
when compared to the previous year. Nevertheless total almond production
is expected to reach a level of 10,000 metric tons in 3 to 4 years. This
forecast assumes normal weather conditions throughout the season.
Industry sources have indicated that close to 80 percent of the planted
area is in production. Although there is no official information on
costs of production, an old publication (from early 1990) show
production cost figures to be slightly over US\$1,200 per hectare after
the 12^th^ year, when orchards are in full production.

## 

# Crop Area

Although almond trees are planted from the Region IV (La Serena) down to
the Eight Region (Chillan), over 80 percent of total area is planted in
the central regions, specifically Region Six (Rancagua) and the
Metropolitan Region (Santiago). Almonds are planted in irrigated and
non-irrigated land; average yields are estimated to be 1.8 metric ton
per hectare.

## 

# Trade

Almost all almonds exported are shelled. Brazil and Argentina are the
main export markets for Chilean almonds. Small but increasing amounts of
almonds are imported. The main supplier is the United States.

## Table 1: Almond Production Statistics

  -------------- --------------- ------------- --------------- ----------- ----
                 Area                                                      

  Years          Planted         Production    Exports          Imports    1/

                 (HA.)           (MT)          (MT)              (MT)      

                                                                           

  1997           5860            5800          2209            151         

  1998           5742            5100          1940            549         

  1999           5894            7400          3132            104         

  2000           6036            8140          3823            864         

  2001           6050            8600          4100            607         

  2002           6086            9100          4733            1030        

  2003           6095            9600          n/i             n/i         2/

  2004           7000            8200          n/i             n/i         2/

                                                                           

  Note: 1/ In                                                              
  Shell basis                                                              

  2/ Estimates                                                             

  Source:                                                                  
  Ministry of                                                              
  Agriculture,                                                             
  Central Bank                                                             
  -------------- --------------- ------------- --------------- ----------- ----

## Table 2: Almond Exports CY2002

+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| # Shelled                 | Volume            | Value               |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
|                           | (IN Kg)           | (in US\$)           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| US                        | 0                 | 0                   |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Brazil                    | 392,915           | 1,241,972           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Netherlands               | 269,698           | 777,019             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Spain                     | 216,296           | 631,785             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Venezuela                 | 213,500           | 779,492             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Argentina                 | 201,790           | 714,295             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Colombia                  | 177,902           | 642,190             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Mexico                    | 172,424           | 809,479             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| United Arab E.            | 121,590           | 402,001             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Russia                    | 101,919           | 346,325             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Others                    | 521,650           | 1,782,515           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| TOTAL                     | 2,389,683         | 22,248,867          |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
|                           |                   |                     |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| # In Shell                |                   |                     |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
|                           |                   |                     |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| US                        | 0                 | 0                   |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| India                     | 740,941           | 1,656,488           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Brazil                    | 692,273           | 2,098,532           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Netherlands               | 431,516           | 1,243,230           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Spain                     | 346,074           | 1,010,857           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Venezuela                 | 341,600           | 1,247,187           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Argentina                 | 322,864           | 1,142,871           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Colombia                  | 284,643           | 1,027,503           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Mexico                    | 275,878           | 1,295,167           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| United Arab E.            | 194,544           | 643,202             |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Others                    | 1,102,307         | 3,615,347           |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| TOTAL                     | 4,732,640         | 14,980,385          |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+
| Source: Central Bank      |                   |                     |
+---------------------------+-------------------+---------------------+

## Table 3: Almond Exports CY2001 

+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| # Shelled                      | Volume        | Value              |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
|                                | (in Kg)       | (Thous. US\$)      |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| US                             | 0             | 0                  |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Argentina                      | 1,318,216     | 3,929              |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Brazil                         | 638,552       | 1,907              |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Venezuela                      | 197,020       | 620                |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Colombia                       | 185,210       | 627                |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Uruguay                        | 61,010        | 188                |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Ecuador                        | 38,200        | 143                |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Peru                           | 36,450        | 136                |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Paraguay                       | 11,800        | 37                 |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Costa Rica                     | 9,500         | 26                 |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Others                         | 4,850         | 23                 |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| TOTAL                          | 2,500,808     | 7,636              |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
|                                |               |                    |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| # In Shell                     |               |                    |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
|                                |               |                    |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| US                             | 0             | 0                  |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Brazil                         | 91,500        | 161                |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Argentina                      | 7,530         | 29                 |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Brit.Territ.in America         | 3             |                    |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Others                         | 0             | 0                  |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| TOTAL                          | 99,033        | 190                |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+
| Source: Central Bank           |               |                    |
+--------------------------------+---------------+--------------------+

## Table 4: Almond Exports CY2000 

+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| # Shelled           | Volume             | Value                    |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
|                     | (in Kg)            | (Thous. US\$)            |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| US                  | 6                  | 0                        |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Argentina           | 1,224,045          | 4,696                    |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Brazil              | 452,097            | 1,790                    |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Colombia            | 173,860            | 674                      |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Venezuela           | 56,200             | 225                      |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Uruguay             | 29,500             | 118                      |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Germany             | 27,970             | 120                      |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Peru                | 20,930             | 86                       |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Ecuador             | 14,005             | 56                       |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Paraguay            | 8,450              | 32                       |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Others              | 7,740              | 30                       |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| TOTAL               | 2,014,803          | 7,827                    |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
|                     |                    |                          |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| # In Shell          |                    |                          |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
|                     |                    |                          |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| US                  | 0                  | 0                        |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| India               | 403,748            | 998                      |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Hong Kong           | 122,364            | 306                      |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Brazil              | 63,729             | 155                      |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Argentina           | 7,920              | 18                       |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Bolivia             | 1,280              | 4                        |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Others              |                    |                          |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| TOTAL               | 599,041            | 1,481                    |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+
| Source: Central     |                    |                          |
| Bank                |                    |                          |
+---------------------+--------------------+--------------------------+

## Table 5: Almond Imports (Shelled) in Kg.

  ----------------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------
  Country of Origin       2000            2001            2002

                                                          

  US                      536,542         381,534         638,694

  Netherlands             0               400             0

  Canada                  0               368             0

  Spain                   2,040           200             0

  Argentina               10              0               0

  Colombia                1               0               0

  Morocco                 0               1,000           0

  India                   0               0               10

  Other, not specified    0               2,020           5,125

  TOTAL                   538,593         385,522         643,829

                                                          

  Source: Central Bank                                    
  ----------------------- --------------- --------------- ---------------