Chile closed the 2025 lemon season with exports totaling 126,865 metric tons (MT), a 23 percent increase from 2024, marking a clear rebound in volume and renewed momentum in non-traditional markets, according to a recent Frutas de Chile report.
Shipments were handled almost entirely by sea, which accounted for 91 percent of exports, while land transport represented 9 percent, and air freight was negligible, underscoring a logistics strategy centered on scale and continuity.
Export supply remained concentrated in central regions, led by the Metropolitan Region, with a 39 percent share and moderate growth, followed by Coquimbo and Valparaíso, which posted stronger year-over-year increases and together accounted for more than half of total volume.
North America remained Chile’s largest destination, receiving 46 percent of exports, although volumes declined slightly compared with the prior season, suggesting some softening in demand. Shipments to the Far East increased modestly and represented more than a quarter of total exports, while Latin America also recorded solid growth from a smaller base. Europe stood out as the most significant shift in the market, with exports rising sharply to 21,600 thousand MT and accounting for 17 percent of total shipments, reflecting a major expansion in market presence during the season.
Changes in product mix and import channels were evident, with strong growth in Eureka and Fino 49 varieties and large gains in markets such as the Netherlands and Argentina, offset by declines in the United States, Japan, and South Korea, pointing to a broader rebalancing of demand and entry points.
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