Peru has exported 75,167 tons of mango in the 2023/2024 campaign, i.e. 66.87% less than the 226,907 tons it exported in the same period of the previous campaign, stated Carlos Ivan Vilchez Peralta, president of the Peruvian Association of Mango Producers and Exporters (APEM). There are still two weeks to go until the end of the campaign, but it's already clear that the export volume will be low.
The significant decline in exports is attributed to the small harvest due to heavy rainfall during Cyclone Yaku and high temperatures caused by the El Niño climate phenomenon. The unfavorable weather conditions have particularly affected the Kent variety, which accounts for more than 90% of exports. The temperatures recorded in July and August 2023 exceeded the averages of the last 50 years and negatively impacted flowering and fruit setting.
The United States continues to be the main market for Peruvian mangoes exported by sea, followed by the Netherlands, Germany, and the United Kingdom. The main destination for the mangoes exported by air is Spain, but the Netherlands and France also import considerable volumes. Exports of frozen mangoes also fell sharply due to the shortage of fruit.
The decline in mango production and exports has had a significant social impact. The agricultural community has faced unprecedented challenges, as there's been a significant reduction in the need for labor that has affected approximately 210,000 people directly in the field and reduced the number of jobs in processing plants. Peru has approximately 35,000 hectares of mango, mainly grown by producers with less than 5 hectares.
Source: agraria.pe