In 2021, Peru exported 266,000 tons of citrus products to different international markets. This year, the country is expected to export 300,000 tons of citrus products, stated Sergio del Castillo, general manager of Procitrus. The export figures indicate that the forecasts will be met: by week 14 of 2022, the country's mandarin exports, alone, had grown by 12%.
"In general, we've exported more citrus fruits by week 14 than last year. I estimate our citrus export volume will grow by 8% to 10% this year," Del Castillo said. Regarding mandarin, the main Peruvian citrus export, the country is expected to export 230,000 tons this year, a higher number than the 215,000 tons it exported last year.
The guild, however, is worried about the increase in production costs. “Fertilizer prices have gone up and farmers have gone on strike over it. There's been an increase in oil prices, labor prices went up due and the payroll is more expensive because of the new law. The price of all supplies has gone up, plastics, bags, cardboard, packaging, as well as freight and services," he stated.
Moreover, Peru could be forced to change the destination of its citrus fruits because of the war. “We'll no longer send fruit to Russia, which was our seventh most important destination. All this fruit will have to be distributed in other markets in Europe, North America, Asia, and America. That's something that's going to happen and there will surely be a lot of fruit that will not be exported because of maritime freight," he said.
Source: agraria.pe