According to Peru's External Trade Federation (ComexPeru), in the past five years Peruvian onion exports increased by 31.5%, as they went from US $ 54 million in 2012 to US $71 million in 2016.
The exporter guild stated that in the past five years, Peruvian onion exports registered a 6.8% average annual growth rate.
They also said that, even though onion exports displayed a positive performance, in 2015 shipments fell by 4.3% when compared to 2014, because there had been lower shipments to Colombia (the second target) as a result of a safeguard implemented by this country.
In 2012 onion shipments totaled $54 million, in 2013, $63 million, in 2014, US $66 million, in 2015, $63 million, and in 2016, US $71 million. Last year, onion exports increased by 12.7% over 2015.
In 2016, the main markets for Peruvian onions were the United States with US $48.3 million (3% less than in 2015) and Colombia with US $10.4 million (+104.4% compared to 2015). The two countries account for nearly 80% of the total shipped.
Production decreased in 2016
According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation (Minagri), although in 2016 onion exports increased when compared to 2015, the domestic production declined by 7.24%.
"The yield (kg /has) and the price that the producer receives (S / kg) also decreased by 0.9% and a 12.3%, respectively," stated the Ministry.
ComexPeru said that they should work harder to make this crop more competitive. They said that logistic costs account for 41.3% of their price, which places it at a disadvantage against competing countries.
"It is essential to aggressively invest in logistics, infrastructure and productivity; to continue opening markets and to position ourselves with products of high quality and performance to ensure the growth of these and other products of the agricultural export sector," said the exporter Guild.
In January of 2017, Peruvian onion exports totaled US $8.3 million, 16.7 percent less than in January 2016.
Source: agraria.pe