Domestic production of mandarins will amount to 383,800 tons at the end of 2016. According to Maximixe, this means there will be a 7.2% increase in production over the previous year.
This increase is due to the higher number of planted hectares and the increased production of the mandarin trees, mainly of the W. Murcott and Clementine varieties, that were planted four years ago.
If the current increase in production continues, Peru would become the leading producer of mandarins in the southern hemisphere, as it would surpass South Africa, the current leader.
In 2015, the three main producing regions (Lima, Ica, and Junin), increased their production by 5.2%, 9.8%, and 2.3%, respectively. This year, total mandarin production grew by 5.4% and reached 357,900 tons.
Exports
Moreover, exports of mandarins (of all types and varieties) reached a new record in 2015, totaling 76,000 tons (5.6% more than in 2014). Meanwhile, according to projections from Maximixe, exports in 2016 would increase by about 13.4%.
The export growth would be mainly driven by the increased demand from the US and the UK. In addition, exports also increased because of the recent opening of the Brazilian market, with which the country has signed an agreement to export mandarins and tangelos.
Source: gestion.pe