Peruvian avocado exports between January and April 2017 amounted to US $ 92,152,000 (44,440 tons), i.e. 10% more than in the same period last year, according to the Agricultural exports Management of the Exporters Association (ADEX).
According to the manager of ADEX's Agricultural exports, Paula Carrion, the increase was due to the best prices in the United States, the fourth destination of this product, which experienced an increase of 5,439.4%.
"The price was higher because world production decreased, mainly Mexico's production. In the first quarter of 2016 the reference price was US $ 1.97 per kilo and in 2017 it was US $ 2.07," she said.
The main destination of the Peruvian avocado was the Netherlands, which made purchases for US $ 51,542,000, concentrating 56% of the total. It was followed by Spain with US $ 21,416,000 (23%) and the United Kingdom with US $ 10,263,000 (11%), the United States 3%, China 2%, and other markets 5%.
Regarding the new markets, Costa Rica acquired Peru avocado for US $1,579,000, Italy (US $ 37,061,000) and Cameroon (US $ 36,765,000).
"The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Recently confirmed that the avocado is a healthy food for the heart, which contributes to increase consumption," said Carrion.
In the case of China, she said, demand has been progressive after the signing of the phytosanitary protocol in 2015. "Consumers in that country are becoming more familiar with the product - in part - because of the active participation of companies in fairs in that part of the world, such as HOFEX, Seoul Food and Thaifex, aimed at promoting the agricultural export offer," she said.
The national companies that led avocado shipments are: Camet Trading SAC, Cerro Prieto SA, Agroindustrias Verdeflor SAC, Incavo SAC, and Plantaciones del Sol SAC
Last year, the country's avocado exports closed at US $ 396,852,000, i.e. 30% more than in 2015.
Source: agraria.pe