Over 500 tons of Chilean dried prunes set for India by 2027

Chile’s dried prunes trip to Southeast Asia started in 2023, when phytosanitary protocols changed and allowed the fruit to enter the Indian market. 

Pedro Acuña, Executive Director of Chileprunes, the industry body promoting the crop for the world's leading exporter of dried prunes, told FreshFruitPortal.com that promotion for the category began in 2024, supported by country brand ProChile and a local agency specializing in the fruit market.

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The association built a local network of importers and distributors by visiting wholesale and retail markets, supermarkets, specialized shops, and gourmet outlets. The initiative included social media campaigns and collaborations with local influencers.

With a foothold in India, the industry body found that there was an important step before breaking into the market: “Before selling the product, we had to explain what it was and how to consume it,” he said.

Acuña explained that the insight reshaped the strategy, which evolved toward a message centered on health benefits. The campaign emphasized gut health, supported by recommendations from doctors, nutritionists, and chefs. Content included recipes and eating ideas adapted to Indian culture, featuring vegetarian and vegan alternatives.

Chilean prune exports to India increased by 400 percent in the last three years, Acuña said, though he advises caution when interpreting this figure, as the market is being built from scratch.

“It is 400 percent more, but from a very low base. We approach it with a lot of prudence. We have advanced very slowly, and while imports have increased, they are far from what we aspire to in such a large market,” he stated.

Projection for Chilean dried prunes

Chileprunes is currently in its fourth promotional season in India, and for this latest campaign the association has a concrete goal: exceeding 500 exported metric tons, activating more than seven importers and 40 distributors, expanding coverage to cities and geographical areas outside major urban centers, and deepening its presence in retail and e-commerce.

Image by Chileprunes

Acuña explained that India is not set to replace Chile's main destinations for prunes. China continues to account for about a third of shipments, and Europe remains a main market. The United States and Mexico also rank as relevant buyers.

However, the executive identified other destinations with great potential, including South Korea, Japan, the Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, and Thailand.

The executive added that adapting product presentation to local habits will be key. 

“One of the opportunities is to send dried prunes in bulk or in 10-kilo formats so local packers can develop 300, 400, or 500-gram packages, potentially combined with other nuts and dried fruits,” he noted.

Regarding potential production growth in Chile, he projects that the sector could expand from the current 34,500 acres to nearly 40,000 by 2030. Growth would be concentrated in the Maule and Ñuble regions, along with parts of O'Higgins.

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