“Our season normally runs from February till June or July. This year´s season has been difficult with too much supply in the European market. The production volume is growing in general, so at some point there is too much supply coming out at the same time. Peru mostly exports to Europe, so everyone tries to start as early as possible”, starts Robin Anaya from the Peruvian company Grupo Athos, which is the largest producer and exporter of pomegranates in the Southern hemisphere.
He explains that Grupo Athos works with the very early varieties such as Emek, Ako and Shani to start the season. “Then from March on we have the Wonderful variety, which is more known in the market. However, this is as well the variety that brings the most volume to the market. At the end of March, the European market was oversupplied.”
The Peruvian pomegranates are shipped to Europe around Easter. “We actually export to the Netherlands from where it will get redistributed. At the beginning of the season we experienced good prices, but then the big volumes entered the market and prices dropped.”
Opening new markets
The United States market is open to export Peruvian pomegranates. “We have some trials going to see if the US market is an option to spread the volumes. Spreading the volumes is really necessary to prevent this situation to happen again next season. Opening new markets would help a lot and we need the government for that. If a country such as China will open or Brazil, this would be a big relief. The worldwide demand for pomegranates is growing, but not at the same pace as the supply.”
For more information:
Robin Anaya
Grupo Athos
Peru
E: ranaya@grupoathos.com.pe
www.athos.com.pe