Avocados are the most exported agroindustrial produce of Peru

During the past six months of the year, avocados have been the flagship of our agricultural exports, with an export value of US$ 250.2 million, a 32.4% increase over the same period of last year, which enabled them to join in the top ten of our total exports, along with copper and gold ore, for example.

In addition, our shipments amounted to 134,180 tons to 22 destinations, mainly the Netherlands (44.3%) and Spain (21.6%), thanks to production led by La Libertad, Ica and Lima, reported Comex Peru.

Although the value of total exports fell by 27.4% in 2011 - 2015, agricultural exports grew by 12.8%. In addition, they accounted for 11.4% of total exports during the same period, and for 13.6% by June of this year, with a value of US$ 2.105 billion and a 2.3% increase over the same period of last year.

Among the most exported produce in the first six months of the year, in addition to fresh or dried avocados (US$ 250.2 million, + 32.4%), there were fresh grapes (US$ 195.3 million -13.6%), both with strong growth and leadership in recent years; followed by fresh or chilled asparagus (US$ 137.8 million, -4.8%), mangoes and mangosteens (US$ 126.4 million -15.8%) and non-decaffeinated or unroasted coffee (US$ 111.5 million, + 21.1%).

Our agricultural exports have shown great competitiveness and dynamism in recent years, but they slowed down in 2015, as they only grew by 0.2%, compared to 20.5% in 2014. Therefore, to ensure sustained growth, it is not only necessary to continue going into more markets, but also expanding logistical infrastructure, promoting major irrigation works, lifting phytosanitary barriers and continuing further research.

The President stated that in his next trip to China he will seek to unlock the phytosanitary barriers that block the entry of some Peruvian agricultural exports into that country, which is our main buyer.

From Huanuco, where he participated in various events, President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (PPK) noted that Peru is able to double its agricultural exports.

“I think that - in Peru - we can double agricultural exports over the next five years. We need to help the small-scale farmer to use technology and to have access to credit’, stated the President today, at the opening of the Fifth Summit of the Regional Commonwealth Pacific - Amazon Center.

“I am leaving for China in a few weeks, as it is the main buyer of exports from Peru. I will take a few producers to explain the Chinese phytosanitary restrictions”.

Source: Agroforum.pe