Peru is set to become South America's leading fruit exporter in 2025, displacing Chile from its historical leadership, according to a report by the General Directorate of Agricultural Policies of the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri).
The projection, based on data on agricultural exports between 2012 and 2022, estimates that Peruvian shipments will reach a value of $10.194 billion in 2025, compared to the $9.979 billion forecast for Chile.
The study, entitled Evolution of Chilean and Peruvian Agricultural Exports up to 2024, highlights that Peruvian agricultural trade has grown at an 11% average annual rate, while Chile's has grown at 6.1%. This difference has allowed a rapid narrowing of the gap: in 2024, Peru's agricultural exports totalled $9.185 billion, just below Chile's $9.403 billion.
The strong momentum of the Peruvian export sector is largely due to the performance of fruit, whose sales abroad grew by 19.6% annually between 2010 and 2024. In contrast, the Chilean rate was 6.8%. If this trend continues, Peruvian fruit exports would reach $11.064 billion in 2027, exceeding Chilean fruit exports by 9%.
The Peruvian portfolio's most outstanding products are blueberries and avocados, whose exports have far surpassed those of its southern neighbor. The difference in grapes is smaller, but if weather conditions allow it, Peru could become the world's leading exporter in 2025.
In vegetables, the gap between the two countries is even wider. Peru accounts for 83% of total exports in this category, compared to Chile's 17%. Although its annual growth has been more moderate, 3.9% compared to Chile's 1.5%, Peruvian volumes far exceed those of the southern country.
Globally, the report projects that Peru will be the world's fifth-largest fruit exporter in 2025, ahead of Chile and behind the Netherlands. Currently, the main Latin American exporters are Mexico, Chile, Peru, Ecuador, and Costa Rica, although the South American regional leadership will pass into Peruvian hands in the short term.
Despite the competition, the document underlines the interest of companies from both countries in establishing strategic alliances that would allow them to jointly face the challenges posed by international markets. This collaboration could translate into lower logistical costs, shared promotional campaigns, and a wider range of exportable products, taking advantage of the seasonal nature of harvests.
The Peruvian agricultural sector's dynamism has been favored by preferential access to key markets such as the United States, resistance to adverse weather events, and growing global demand for fresh fruits and vegetables.
However, the report warns of potential risks that could slow this growth, including changes in trade policies, severe weather shocks, and weaknesses in infrastructure and international relations.
In 2022, world fruit exports reached a record $137 billion, according to the United Nations Statistics Division. In this context, Peru's rise reshapes the global map and strengthens South America's leading role in the international fruit trade.
Source: infobae.com