Agriculture and Irrigation Minister Jose Hernandez estimates that Peruvian agro-exports to the Netherlands will surpass US$1 billion this year.
Peru's main exports to the European nation include
avocados, mangoes, grapes, cacao,
blueberries, bananas, asparagus, coffee, among others, considering last year's food exports to such country amounted to US$792 million.
According to the government official,
agro-exports reached 142 countries in the first nine months of 2017, totaling US$4.172 billion in sales, a 10% increase from the same period in 2016.
Peru diversified its agro-export destinations with higher shipments to China (140%), South Korea (106%), Ecuador (28%), Spain (15%), the United States( 8%), Canada (7%), Belgium (5%), the Netherlands (4%), Chile (4%), and England (3%).
Goals for 2021
This year, the public sector is set to exceed US$6 billion in food sales, working closely with the agro-export sector. This amount may increase to US$10 billion in 2021.
"This is thanks to Senasa's efforts to open new markets and meet health requirements set by each purchasing country," he expressed.
Hernandez said the Agriculture sector expects asparagus and blueberries to enter the U.S. market as origin labeled products.
In this sense, Senasa and the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) are expected to speed up this work.
(END) CNA/JJN/FGM/RMB
Published: 11/17/2017