Latin America: the neighbors are looking for good fruit

In the face of the human tragedy caused by the earthquake in Venezuela, Latin American countries reacted immediately with aid and rescue teams. No one hesitated to help their Latin American neighbor. This response reflects the many aspects that unite the countries of this vast region, such as language, history, economic and political development, and a sense of belonging and brotherhood. Therefore, it is surprising that the fruit trade among Latin American countries is only now booming.

Una excepción a esto son las manzanas y peras, caso en el cual el comercio dentro de la región es de larga data y conocido. La región recibe dos tercios de los envíos de pomáceas de Chile y Argentina. Pero en los últimos años se viene evidenciando que es un buen negocio también para otras frutas como son las mandarinas, uvas, cerezas, tropicales, etc. En más de un caso entre el 10 al 40% de las exportaciones totales se dirigen a Latinoamérica.

Advantages of sending fruit to Latin America

• Same language: although this is not the case in Brazil, a suitable understanding can be found with Portuñol (a combination of Spanish and Portuguese).
• Similar idiosyncrasy: facilitates understanding between the parties and helps them understand how the market and the consumer function.
• Wide agroclimatic diversity: the vast size of the continent means that the northern regions mainly produce tropical or subtropical fruits; while the southern countries focus on temperate fruits, which require cold for their development.
• Complementarity of crops: in this case, altitude also plays a role, in addition to latitude. This is clearly reflected in avocados, which in Peru are grown on the plains and harvested in winter, while in Chile they are grown in the Andean valleys and ripen in summer. Colombia, on the other hand, takes advantage of its diverse microclimates, with two harvests per year. Other examples of fruits with different ripening times include table grapes, blueberries, limes, and so on.
• Closeness: being closer to the destination markets allows for frequent visits, facilitates attendance at events and congresses, enables faster and cheaper travel when the presence of operators is required, etc.
• Lower transportation costs: this point is becoming increasingly important, given the sharp increase in transportation costs recently, which is a significant expense in the overall balance sheet.
• Land transport: in many cases, shipments are made by truck; this relieves pressure on ports, reduces dependence on shipping companies, and limits the availability of refrigerated containers, a situation that becomes especially complicated when the campaigns for several fruits overlap.

Apple and Pears

In 2025, 57% of Chilean and Argentinian apples and 51% of pears were destined for Latin America. Within this region, Brazilstands out, as the main receptor of both fruits, implying a certain level of "Brazil dependence" for the suppliers. The volume of pear imports is fairly constant. Apple imports depend on the local harvest. There were three years with poor harvests, which significantly increased imports. But in the current season, local production has recovered, consequently reducing the need to import.

The other major buyer of pome fruits from Chile is Colombia, to such an extent that it is often the primary buyer of Chilean apples. In 2025, it imported 87,000 tons of apples from Chile. Pear imports are considerably more limited. There is not much interest in pears. These come from Argentina and Chile.

Other Latin American destinations include: Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Paraguay, and Central America.

Grapes

Interest in table grapes within Latin America is relatively recent, but it shows a strong upward trend. In the last season, 12-15% of South American grape exports went to Latin America. In this case, Mexico stands out as its primary destination. Peru sends 10% of its total exports to Mexico, while the share is lower in Chile. Other destinations in the region are Colombia, Argentina and Brazil. The complementarity of the campaigns means that most countries are both importers and exporters.

Mandarins

Citrus fruits are grown throughout Latin America, but mandarins are delicate and require a specific climate, such as cold winters and a wide temperature range, to achieve good internal and external quality. For this reason, Peru, Chile, Argentina, and Uruguay have begun sending increasing volumes to their neighbors. Their destinations are Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, Paraguay and smaller markets.

Avocados

Another fruit that is increasingly benefiting from the Latin American market. Argentina is one of the main markets for Chilean avocados, receiving 20% ​​of total exports. Brazil and Peru also send avocados to Argentina. On the other hand, Chile is the main Latin American destination for Peruvian avocados, receiving them during the winter, due to the lack of local production.

Limes

Chile is the main market for Peruvian limes, which are needed for their traditional drink, Pisco. 40% of Peruvian shipments go to Chile. Brazil sends limes to Argentina.

Cherries

Due to its cold requirements, this fruit only grows in central and southern Chile and Argentina. Almost all exports go to northern markets, and while business in the region is still in its early stages, it shows promising prospects. The greatest potential is especially during the holidays, a time when Latin Americans enjoy this unique fruit.