Raisin production in 2011/12 (Jan-Dec 2012) was smaller than previously estimated. Despite high prices for raisins in the export market a reduced availability of grapes due to a smaller harvest of table grapes and a strong market for fresh grapes reduced the production of raisins. For the coming years industry sources have indicated that due to increasing labor costs coupled with a continued revaluation of the peso against the dollar which is affecting revenues for table grape producers anderoding the fresh table grape export market for the Chilean producers, an increasing number of producers is expected to convert their table grape orchards to raisin orchards.
For 2012/13 (Jan-Dec 2013) another reduction in production and exports are expected as table grape production did not expand and a strong export demand for fresh grapes increased export volume and prices. In Chile there are almost no grapes planted only for raisin production. Raisins come mostly from discarded table grapes that do not make it for exports or domestic fresh consumption. Raisins are produced mainly from Thompson and Flame Seedless varieties. Other varieties that are becoming more popular are Autumn Royal, Black seedless, Crimson seedless, Superior and Red Globe. Most of the drying process in Chile is carried out by using the sun to dry grapes. Grapes are laid on plastic film in open fields, where they are sun-dried for a 15 to 20 day period. There are also some facilities that use drying tunnels. After the drying process is completed they are washed and cleaned from stems, sized and packed either in bulk or smaller containers depending on the market.
For the coming year additional increases in production of raisins will depend on foreign demand, prices of raisins and production of table grapes. Industry sources have indicated that the estimated production will probably not exceed 90 thousand metric tons, as an increasing area of table grape orchards mostly used and suitable for drying into raisins are beinguprooted, as a result of the falling economic returns for fresh table grapes. Additionally raisin producers compete with grape juice and wine producers and the availability of grapes for drying will depend on the demand of grapes needed by these producers. Over 95 percent of Chilean raisin production is destined for the export market.
Chile is the sixth largest raisin producer and the fourth largest exporter in the world; and the largest exporter in the southern hemisphere. Is also the main supplier of raisins of the United States. The main destination of the table grape production in Chile goes to the fresh fruit export market (60%), followed by raisin production (21%), grape juice (9%) and wine (9%).The raisin production capacity in Chile is estimated at 340,000 MT. Presently approximately a little over 270,000 MT are processed-- that is 82 percent of total capacity. Table grapes are harvested from November through March, depending on the production area variety of grapes harvested. Drying of grapes to raisins is during the summer months, December through
March and processing is normally from April through July. There are some processing plants that process throughout the whole year.
