Peruvian Fruit Exports Hit $4.5 Billion in 2021

According to provisional data from the Peruvian Ministry of Agricultural Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI), Peru’s agricultural exports in 2021 reached a total value of more than $9.0 billion, corresponding to an increase of 15.8% over 2020. In particular, total fruit exports in 2021 are estimated to have exceeded $4.5 billion, a year-on-year increase of 15.0%. The top performers in the fruit category were blueberries, table grapes and avocados, each of which surpassed the $1 billion mark.

Peru is the world’s largest exporter of blueberries, with the country’s blueberry exports exceeding $1 billion for the first time in 2020. This figure is expected to have increased to $1.4 billion in 2021. New varieties of Peruvian blueberries have a longer shelf life, making them more resilient to shipping over long distances. Exports of Peruvian blueberries to China this season are anticipated to exceed 30,000 tons. According to MIDAGRI, one of the advantages of Peruvian blueberries is their harvesting season, which is different from those of other blueberry exporters such as Chile, Spain and the United States.

Meanwhile, Peruvian table grape exports in 2021 are estimated to have reached a total value of $1.27 billion. The export season for Peruvian table grapes typically lasts between August and March, with 60% of exports concentrated between October and December. China is the third-largest importer of Peruvian table grapes after the United States and the Netherlands, accounting for an export volume of more than 50,000 tons.

Finally, exports of Peruvian avocados, primarily of the Hass variety, are estimated to have reached a total value of $1.12 billion in 2021. Five years ago, the avocado growing area in Peru was 56,000 hectares. It is now 73,000 hectares, an increase of approximately 30%. Peru is China’s largest supplier of avocados. In 2021, China imported an estimated 26,000 tons of Peruvian avocados, corresponding to 70% of China’s total avocado imports.

The top ten countries and regions for Peru’s agricultural exports were the United States, the Netherlands, Spain, Chile, the United Kingdom, China, Ecuador, Hong Kong, Germany and South Korea. Together, these markets accounted for 78% of the total exports. China’s fruit imports from Peru include grapes, mangos, tangerines, avocados, blueberries and frozen strawberries.

Furthermore, Peru is currently seeking China market access for additional agricultural products, including pomegranates, bananas, dragon fruit, pecans, chestnuts and various frozen fruits. In 2022, Peru’s agricultural exports are forecast to reach $10.0 billion.

Images: Pixabay

This article was translated from Chinese. Read the original article.