The president of the National Banana Board (JNB), Valentin Ruiz Delgado, stated that banana producers from the Valley of Chira (Sullana) will export 6,890 organic banana containers this year (130 containers per week), 18% more than the 5,830 containers shipped in 2013 (110 containers per week). Each container stores 1,080 boxes of 18.14 kilos.
Ruiz Delgado also noted that this increase was mainly due to the region's increase in production. "The average yield last year was 1,200 boxes per hectare and this year it was 1,350 boxes per hectare," he said.
According to him, the producers invested more in their properties this year, especially in phytosanitary control (regarding the red stain and other trips), and in issues of fertilization. He also said that in 2013 there were 5,100 hectares in production and that there were 6,000 hectares this year.
Ruiz Delgado stressed that the main destination markets for organic bananas produced in the Valley of Chira were: Belgium, France, the US and Japan. He also stated that the average price of a box in 2013 was $2.80, and that it had increased to $13 dollars this year.
On the other hand, the president of JNB said there were about 600 hectares of organic bananas between Tumbes and Lambayeque and that Tumbes exported four containers a week and Lambayeque seven.
Data
-According to AgrodataPerú, Peruvian banana exports during the period of January to November this year amounted to 139,081,299 kilos ($ 103,876,105), representing an increase of 23% in volume and 28.5% in value when compared to the 112,766,528 kilos ($80,794,752) achieved in the same period of 2013.
-The destination markets are the Netherlands with $ 43.2 million (42% of total), United States with $28 million (27%), Germany with 17%, Belgium with 5%, Japan with 3%, Finland, 2%, South Korea, 2%, UK with 2%, and others with 1%.
-The Association of Small Producers of Saman leads sales with $ 7.6 million (7%), followed by Agribusiness Los Angeles with $ 7.4 million, the Community Association of Producers of Querecotillo with 6.4 million dollars, the Association of Producers of Valle del Chira with 6.2 million, the Association of Small Producers of Querecotillo with $ 6.2 million, these, among 42 other companies.