Fruit exports up until March amounted to US $118.7 million, about $30.4 million more than the $88.3 million made in the same period last year. This growth was also observed in terms of volume as exports amounted to 267.3 million kilos, 28.2 million or 11.8% more than in march 2014. Average prices increased by 18.9%.
Melon incursion
The director of the Agricultural Division of the Association of Exporters (AGEXPORT), Ricardo Santa Cruz, said that the growth of fruit exports was probably due to the entry of new productive areas of melon in the east, as well as to the banana production near the border with Mexico, which has also grown, and because of the entry of new productive areas of papaya and pineapple in Peten, even though they shouldn't have a big impact.
"It is important to note that the Central American market has become more dynamic and Guatemala is a supplier of a wide variety of fruits, of which we have little information," he said.
He added that, "none of the items are important by themselves, but the sum of all them creates a statistic of export volumes which does not necessarily go hand in hand with the inflow of foreign currency, because prices have not been so good."
According to Rodolfo Rivera, president of the Excard SA Company, exports and values of fresh mango, melon, and watermelon have increase on par with the increased production.
He added that the market for processed fruits were Mexico, Central America and the United States, and that there had been a significant growth in Mexico due to the promotion of canned fruits and vegetables.
"Rambutan has had a nice growth, also the melon, papaya, mango and other fruits, such as blackberries, that have been growing gradually," he said.
Overall exports to Europe, Rivera said, have grown by 6% because the cost of shipping the products was too high so they were not competitive, especially for perishable goods.
First Agro & Business in El Salvador
Agritrade, the Agricultural Platform of Agexport, will hold the first Agro & Business in El Salvador on May 21 and 22.
Among the products that will be promoted are mango, guava, cauliflower, passion fruit, cashew nut, shrimp, sweet and green chilli, loroco, squash, baby vegetables, cabbage and concentrated food for livestock. "We project 100 Salvadoran and Guatemalan producers of 30 rural organizations will promote their products to 15 buyers from both countries in the Agro & Business El Salvador. This event will help the attending entrepreneurs engage in trade relations so as to increase the exportable supply in the region, said the president of Agritrade, Pablo Velasquez.
Source: Siglo21.gt