In 2020, Peru exported 172,936 tons of asparagus for $516 million, i.e. a 4% and 7% year-on-year decrease in volume and value, respectively, according to data from FreshFruit.
Fresh asparagus accounted for 72% of shipments, followed by canned asparagus, (21%), and frozen asparagus (6%).
In 2022, the main destinations for Peruvian asparagus were the United States (53% share), Spain (14%), and the Netherlands (8%).
Exports to the United States totaled 104,680 tons (-6%) for 275 million dollars (-10%). The average price in this market stood at $2.63 per kilogram (-4%).
Shipments to Spain amounted to 24,380 tons (+7%) worth 75 million dollars (+9%). Spain paid $3.06 per kilogram (+2%) for the Peruvian product.
Finally, shipments to the Netherlands amounted to 10,382 tons (-5%) worth $41 million (-7%). During the period analyzed, this destination paid $3.93 per kilogram (-2%) for the Peruvian asparagus.
“One of the key factors for this negative result is that the Peruvian supply has fallen because US authorities demand fumigation to enter its market. As a result, many producers couldn't export to this key destination. In addition, due to the cost of this process, the revenue diminished for those who could afford fumigation,” Fresh Fruit detailed.
“Another key point has been the significant growth of Mexican supply in the international market. In the first half of 2022 alone, there was a large increase in production in key regions, such as Baja California Sur (with more than 7,000 hectares of asparagus). This caused the prices received by Peruvian exporters to fall, reaching a minimum average of 2.13 dollars per kilogram in the month of May."
“There were mixed results in the European market. There was some increase in demand for asparagus, especially in countries such as Spain and France. However, the growth of production in countries such as Germany, Italy, and Spain stopped the possible growth of Peruvian shipments. This happened because the high logistics costs to bring products from Latin America helped the local product become more competitive.”
Source: freshfruit.pe