Cranberry exporters seek new destinations and lower US dependence
The need to position itself better in markets such as Europe or Asia, and the strong competition that generated the income of Peruvian blueberries to the United States since last year, which compete directly with the Argentine product, support this diversification strategy.
In the last year, seven of each 10 Argentine blueberries were destined for the United States, which generates a dependence that could be avoided not only by this antecedent, but also by competition and positioning issues.
"We want to deconcentrate shipments to the United States", Acknowledged Federico Bayá, President of the Argentine Committee of Blueberries (ABC), entity that concentrates 14 partners that represent the 85% of the national export of the fruit (almost all the produced is exported).
The need to position itself better in markets such as Europe or Asia, and the strong competition that generated the income of Peruvian blueberries to the United States since last year, which compete directly with the Argentine product, support this diversification strategy.
With this combo, the intention is to look more and more at the demand of markets such as English, which value quality more than price, item where the cranberry takes advantage. In this sense, the objective of the industry for this year is to send more tons to the old continent and lower shipments to the United States to less than 60% of the total.
In that race also enters the demand of Asia, and the Chinese market is positioned with great potential. "We are working hard to open it but we have a sanitary work because China does not approve the treatment that would allow it to be flown. We can only go by boat with cold treatment but it takes 45 days"Commented the manager. For example, countries such as Uruguay, Peru or Chile have approved the two export protocols, and even in the case of Peru and Chile with the addition of free trade agreements, which enter without tariffs. Peru, for example, expects to place an 20% of its production in the Chinese market this season, volume to which Argentina wants to send.
On the verge of having started a new harvest, which starts in the country the first week of September and extends until the end of December, the Argentine export companies, approximately 30 already foresee their movements. Gabriel Wasserman, director of Gramm Agropecuaria, commented that they face a complex campaign with logistic, tax and labor costs greater than the countries that are competitors.
"We also trust that we have very important strengths in quality and know-how, and air logistics to reach almost all markets"He said. The executive stressed that they have incorporated a sorting machine for this season that allows selecting by firmness, defect and size the 100% of the classified fruit. "This is one of the requirements to enter the Chinese market, which Argentina is in the last steps to achieve the health opening".
The industry also works on the development of maritime logistics, something that had to adapt since last year by the Peruvian competition, and that allows you to lower costs. "We are working with the Government and waiting for the tax and labor reform. We have already advanced in suspending the resolution that established the payment of a piece of work of 25 kilos per day that limited the production", Bayá counted.
In numbers, it is estimated that exports will be similar to what was achieved last year, which was around 18.500 tons, close to the record of 19.400 tons exported in 2011. The entrance to the Chinese market, in addition to others such as the Japanese, Korean or Indian, could generate a growth in the area sown in the producing provinces (such as Entre Ríos, Corrientes or Tucumán), which this year allocated some 2800 hectares. In total, last year the market generated foreign currency for u $ s 110 million.
Source: Fmimpacto107.com.ar
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