According to data from the Association of Exporters (ADEX), in the first half of 2019, passion fruit shipments decreased by 12.36% over the same period last year, generating 10.2 million dollars.
Even though in recent years the export volumes of Peruvian passion fruit have increased - going from 14,389 tons in 2016, to 16,221 tons in 2017, and 17,119 tons in 2018 - their value fell by 14% in 2017, and 7% in 2018, adding up to $ 40,852,000.
Renzo Gomez, a spokesman for ADEX's Industry Fruit Working Group, said the decrease in value of passion fruit exports is due to the loss of sweetness of the fruits and the low quality of the crops.
The area harvested in 2018 amounted to 6,160 hectares, mainly located in Lima (33% share), Lambayeque (18%), Ancash (18%), La Libertad (13%), and Piura (13%). According to ADEX. 70% of the national passion fruit production is destined for the industry.
The main export destination of Peruvian passion fruit, in its various presentations, is the Netherlands, with shipments for 32,616,000 dollars in 2018. It is followed by the United States, Chile, and Puerto Rico, according to the 2018 reports.
To face this problem, ADEX, with the support of the public sector, is working to improve the training of farmers and has proposed developing a variety of elite seeds that meet the quality standards required abroad. As part of its actions, it will hold the 2nd International Passion Fruit Congress on September 5 and 6 in Chiclayo.
With these actions, Gomez estimates that passion fruit production and shipments will recover in 2021. He also said that, in this same vein, they were working in the markets of South Korea, China, and New Zealand.
Source: gestion.pe
