In the first half of the year, shipments of this Chilean fruit reached 29,704 metric tons, with a FOB value of US$107 million. Spain, Italy, and Germany stood out for their high returns to the industry.
Chilean dried plum exports closed the first half of 2026 on a positive note, reaching 29,704 metric tons exported with a FOB value of US$107 million, and are present in 69 international markets.
The drive observed in May and, especially, in June helped solidify a recovery in shipments and point to a promising second half of the year for the industry.
In fact, the market experienced a sharp acceleration toward the end of the half-year. The month of June accounted for nearly 36% of the total export volume for the entire half-year, reaching 10,623 metric tons and generating FOB revenue of US$36.6 million—nearly double the shipments recorded in May.
Growth was driven primarily by China, Poland, Mexico, Spain, Germany, and Brazil.
China and the June Peak
Looking at China alone, approximately 2,882 metric tons were shipped in June—a volume equivalent to more than half of all exports to China during the first six months of the year.
This is how China established itself as the leading destination for Chilean prunes, accounting for 19.2% of the export volume, followed by Poland and Mexico. Together, these three markets accounted for 43% of shipments between January and June, while the top ten destinations accounted for nearly three-quarters of exports during that period.
Europe Remains Strong
Although China led in export volume, Europe as a whole once again demonstrated its importance to the domestic industry, with six countries ranking among the top 10 by value (FOB).
Europe remains the leading destination region in terms of diversity, with a broad distribution of shipments and large, well-established markets featuring medium- and small-sized destinations.
Likewise, Spain, Italy, and Germany are among the markets with the highest returns.
In terms of countries, Poland—which continues to serve as a strategic gateway for Chilean exports to Central and Eastern Europe—ranked as the second-most important destination market after China, with FOB revenues of nearly US$13.9 million, while Spain reached US$8.9 million, Germany US$6.7 million, and Italy US$5.4 million.
In Latin America, Mexico maintained its position as the leading regional market, with revenues of nearly US$10.9 million, while Brazil saw significant growth during the second quarter, particularly in June.
“The figures for the first half of the year reflect the strength of an industry that has managed to consolidate its presence in strategic markets while also making progress in diversifying its export destinations. We view the developments in Asia and the recovery underway in Europe with optimism, which strengthens the outlook for the second half of the year,” says Pedro Acuña, executive director of Chileprunes.
