Peruvian grapes see big 2020 gains

Peru saw a boom in table grape exports in late 2020, with the U.S. as the No.1 market.

According to data from the Association of Exporters (ADEX) Peruvian table grapes reached exports of $80.1 million in October, reflecting an increase of 11 percent when compared to the same month in 2019.

According to Agraria, shipments amounted to $546.1 million from January to October, representing a growth of 23 percent when compared to the same time period in 2019. Ica, the main producing and exporting region of Peru, amounted to $324.1, representing a 17.9 percent increase.

Despite positive performance in the region, the business union warned about a probable impact due to the agricultural workers strike and roadblocks in December would have on the region’s grape and other agro-industrial sectors, such as asparagus and avocados.

The union stated, “each day of protest prevented the exit of nearly 200 containers of agricultural products, representing a loss of about $10 million a day. Each container that can’t be moved has an average value of about $50,000.”

Other grape producing regions (from January to October) were Piura with $128.8 million, reflecting an increase of 16.6 percent; Lambayeque with $24.1million, reflecting a decrease of 2.4 percent; and La Libertad with $17.1 million, reflecting a decrease of 16.3 percent.

ADEX highlighted the importance of working with the National Agrarian Health Service (Senasa) to open more markets for this fruit in order to promote its internationalization.

From January to October 2020, Peruvian table grapes reached 48 countries. The U.S. led with $242.2 million, reflecting an increase of 41 percent; followed by the Netherlands with $68.3 million, reflecting an increase of 14.5 percent.

Hong Kong with $66.7 million, Mexico with $26.7 million, and China with $25.8 million also stood out.

The top ten were completed by the United Kingdom, Spain, Colombia, South Korea, and Canada. Only China, in fifth place, fell by 22.4 percent.

The most exported variety is the Red Globe. Others such as Sweet Globe, Sugraone, Crimson, Thompson, Sweet Celebration, Jack Salute, Flame Seedless, and Sweet Sapphire, among other, have also been successful.

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