Horticultural research company iQonsulting has forecast a 7% year-on-year fall for Southern Hemisphere kiwifruit exports, due to damages caused by Psa-V vine disease in New Zealand.

The company expects a total of 510,160 metric tons (MT) to be shipped from New Zealand and Chile, with the latter estimated to record a 7% year-on-year rise to 193,180MT.

IQonsulting has estimated New Zealand will export 307,980MT, representing a 14% fall on last year's shipments. The consultancy attributes this drop to the effects of Psa-V on the gold kiwifruit variety, with export volumes set to decrease by 45%.

Meanwhile a 5% fall is expected for New Zealand's green variety exports in 2012.

Chile's expected growth is set to come from a 9% rise in Hayward kiwifruit from the VI region (O'Higgins).

iQonsulting/www.freshfruitportal.com