The international market of the prune is undergoing a dynamic moment marked by a strong demand that has kept the prices in the high range of its historical average.
So says Sebastián Plaza, commercial manager of Frutexsa and ambassador of the International Nut and Dried Fruit Council (INC) of Chile who closely observes the main role China has in this matter.
“China continues to be a key actor. Its strong demand has kept good prices, which has been positive for the whole chain, from producers to exporters. Even though, this year, it is not expected an important percentage increase in relation to the record volume of 30,000 tons exported last year, the numbers are solid and very similar, explains the executive”.
According to him, the European markets, traditionally more demanding and with higher prices, have also had an important role this year. “Unlike 2024, The Europeans anticipated the purchases because last year they came after the Chinese and they had to buy at a price little bit higher than usual. This year has been the opposite: the Chinese came later willing to pay prices higher than usually which speaks of a competitive and consolidated industry. This year the sale speed is very good”.
At the same time, new actors like China and Uzbekistan are beginning to emerge as countries which produce prunes. “INC has started to include them in its statistics, acknowledging its growing importance in the global market. To ignore this phenomenon would be ignoring a reality that is transforming the industry regardless that their prune does not come from D’Agen plums which are the consumers favorite variety”, says Sebastián Plaza.
The ambassador’s role
The commercial manager of Frutexsa has been INC’s ambassador in Chile for two years. This capacity, which has to be applied for and must be approved by the board of the organization, implies the representation of Chile in this 85-country international network promoting good practices, quality standards, increase in the demand of dried fruits and a balance between production, exportation and sustainability.
“The job requires active participation in international meetings and congresses where we share figures, consumer tendencies and common concerns regarding the industry. From Chile we contribute specially with information regarding the prune industry, in which we are global leaders together with the United States”, he says.
The INC ambassador has a strategic role in the Ambassador’s Committee; he is the link between the organization and the different actors of the dried fruit sector national and internationally. Among his main responsibilities are the promotion of new members to INC, the establishment of relationships with key institutions, and reporting periodically about important information regarding exports among others.
To sum up, the ambassador acts as a technical-commercial reference of INC in its country, providing information, strategies and coordination for the global development of the dried fruit industry.
It is important to remember that for some months the Asociación Gremial de Procesadores y Exportadores de Ciruelas Secas de Chile, Chileprunes, is a member of INC, “which implies the commitment to promote the global industry of dried and dehydrated fruits, in our case focusing on prunes, towards a sustainable, innovative and prosperous future”, adds Pedro Acuña, executive director of Chileprunes.
