Chilean Walnut Industry Poised for Revival: Exponut 2025 Set to Tackle Global Challenges
Santiago, Chile – November 12, 2025 – The Chilean walnut industry, a cornerstone of Latin American agricultural exports, is signaling a cautious but optimistic recovery, and all eyes are now on Exponut 2025, the region’s premier walnut convention. This breaking news comes as a welcome development after several years of hardship, and the event promises to be a pivotal moment for producers, exporters, and stakeholders across the sector. For those following agricultural markets and Google News SEO trends, this is a story to watch.
Navigating a Volatile Global Market: China’s Influence and Trade Hurdles
Exponut 2025, organized by Chilenut, will bring together over 600 industry professionals at the Monticello Convention Center. The timing is crucial. While the 2025 season is projected to be the best in five years, prices remain below expectations, largely due to the significant impact of China’s emergence as a major walnut exporter. China’s record export volumes have fundamentally altered the global supply landscape, creating both opportunities and intense competition.
“Today we see a recovery in the market, the first green shoots after difficult years,” stated Juan Esteban Rodríguez, President of Chilenut. “However, we will need at least a couple of stable seasons to recover the lost surface.” The industry has faced challenges including drought conditions and declining profitability in older orchards, leading to a decrease in planted hectares. Despite these setbacks, Chilean producers have demonstrated remarkable resilience, achieving productivity levels comparable to, and sometimes exceeding, those in California – a testament to their technical expertise.
A major obstacle to further growth remains the 100% tariff imposed on Chilean nuts entering India, a key market with immense potential. However, there’s growing optimism surrounding the potential ratification of a bilateral trade agreement before year-end, a move that would significantly benefit the Chilean agricultural sector as a whole. This is a critical development for SEO and news visibility, as trade agreements often generate significant search interest.
Exponut 2025: A Deep Dive into the Future of Walnuts
The convention’s program is packed with insights from leading experts. Gianfranco Marcone will address the critical issue of climate change and its impact on harvests, urging attendees to “look at the sky, decisions on earth.” Soledad Onetto will offer a broader perspective on current challenges and the role of common sense in a complex world. Erick Cea, Chilenut’s Technical Coordinator, will focus on quality as a key driver of success.
Further sessions will delve into the specifics of the Chinese market (Rafael Bianchini, Frunut), quality, productivity, and profitability (Nicolás Vargas, Growex Operations Manager, and Juan Manuel Vilches), the unique advantages of Chile as a walnut-growing region (Gustavo Mendoza), and a data-driven analysis of the nut industry (Benjamín Pérez, Calbu). The closing panel, featuring industry leaders Cristián Infante (Pacific Nut) and David Valenzuela (Invernada), will tackle the challenges of achieving ambitious goals for the 2025 season.
The inauguration ceremony will be a high-profile event, headlined by Juan Esteban Rodríguez, Minister of Agriculture Ignacia Fernández, and Ignacio Fernández, Director of ProChile, alongside other key industry figures. The prestigious “Golden Nut 2025” award will also be presented.
Strengthening Industry Unity and Looking Ahead
Chilenut currently represents 70% of Chilean walnut exporters, a historical high. However, the association is actively working to increase producer participation, recognizing that a unified front is essential for continued growth. “To continue growing we need producers to accompany us,” emphasized Rodríguez. “ExpoNut is the showcase in which we show the country and the world the great work that is being done and the potential we have as an industry.”
The Chilean walnut industry’s journey towards recovery is far from over, but Exponut 2025 represents a crucial step forward. The event’s focus on innovation, collaboration, and strategic market analysis positions Chile to navigate the complexities of the global walnut market and capitalize on emerging opportunities. Staying informed about these developments is vital for anyone involved in agricultural trade, investment, or breaking news coverage.