Chilean citrus projects six percent growth for its 2026 campaign
The Chilean citrus export season is projected to see positive numbers.
According to data provided by the Citrus Committee of industry body Frutas de Chile, the current campaign is set to grow six percent in volume, reaching 530 thousand tons. In 2025, the South American country shipped 499,204 tons of citrus to international markets.
Local industry news outlet Diario Frutícola reported that the sector has been experiencing sustained growth since 2022, driven by lemons and oranges and strengthened by the stability of mandarins.
The United States remains the main destination for Chilean citrus, accounting for 80 percent of exports, said industry representative Monserrat Valenzuela.
Chilean citrus performance breakdown
According to data provided by Frutas de Chile, lemons should establish themselves this season as the fastest-growing category in the country’s citrus portfolio, with shipments set to reach 131,000 tons. This represents a 14 percent increase over the 115,050 tons exported in 2025.
Oranges are also on the rise and are projected to grow 10 percent compared to 2025, reaching 134 thousand tons.
For clementines, the estimate is 75,000 tons, representing a five percent increase over the previous season, when the sector exported 71,550 tons.
Meanwhile, mandarin exports are projected to remain stable, reaching 190,000 tons. The estimate is less than one percent above the 2025 total of 190,910 tons.
Stable volumes of mandarins shipped abroad reflect the strategic importance of the category in Chile’s citrus export portfolio and its role as one of the most relevant fruits among the Andean country’s citrus shipments.
*All images are referential.
Related stories
Subscribe to our newsletter
