Argentina: Fruit and vegetable exports increase

Fruit and vegetable exports amounted to 1.212 billion dollars between January and August, a 4.9% increase compared to last year. The main destinations were Russia, Brazil, the Netherlands, Italy and Spain.

The total fruit production for 2013 showed an increase of 2.3 %, driven by the increase in the harvest of peaches and plums, according to a report from IES Consultants, Sectoral Economic Research. That group also estimated that vegetable production will grow 2.1 % compared to last year.

Fruit exports totaled $ 869 million in the first eight months of 2013, with a rise of 11.2 % in value and 5.6% in volume. The report indicates that the poor production of pears and apples in the northern hemisphere caused a sharp rise in international prices in 2013, which eased the tense domestic situation.

"However, the prospects are grim for the future, since the export prices would remain at current levels next year," it warns.

The production of the main fruits in the 2012/13 campaign remained at the same level as in the previous season, with an increase in pears, apples and limes which offset the decline in the harvest of tangerines, grapefruit and oranges.

Pear exports totaled $ 374 million in the first eight months of the year, a 20.5% increase since, in addition to higher prices (5.4%), the volume sold grew by 14.4 %.

Lime exports reached U.S. $ 226.4 million, a 14.6% increase since there was a bigger volume sold (5.4%) and a 8.7% increase in its average export price.

Source: eltribuno.info