Andina

Peru's agro-exports remain dynamic, up nearly 9% in 1Q 2021

Photo: Midagri

Photo: Midagri

16:52 | Lima, May. 10.

Despite the impacts of COVID-19, agro-exports continue to see positive growth, reaching US$1.744 billion in the first quarter (January-March) of this year, which represents an increase of 8.9% compared to the same period in 2020, the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) reported on Monday.

During said period, for example, non-traditional agro-exports amounted to US$1.689 billion, a 9.2% growth over the same period in 2020.

The products that stood out in the agro-export ranking were fresh grapes, which totaled US$472 million and accounted for 28% of the total, as well as fresh mangoes (US$208 million, 12%), avocados (US$117 million, 6.9%), frozen mangoes (US$71 million, 4.2%), and blueberries (US$50 million, 3%).

Also of note was the growth recorded by exports of fresh asparagus, which totaled US$48 million and accounted for 2.9% of the total, of fresh bananas (US$38 million, 2.2%), preparations for animal feed (US$36 million, 2.1%), cacao beans (US$26 million, 1.6%), as well as non-crushed and non-ground ginger (US$25 million, 1.5%).

Together, these products account for 65% of the non-traditional exportable supply.

Midagri highlighted that, within the basket of non-traditional products, fruits continue to be the main driver of agro-exports, whose sales totaled more than US$1.040 billion in the first quarter, making up 61% of non-traditional agro-exports, an increase of 18% from the same period in 2020.

For their part, traditional agro-exports amounted to US$57 million, an increase of 0.1% compared to last year. Sales of unroasted coffee stand out (US$46 million) within this group of products, showing an increase of 11%.

Additionally, the United States remains the main destination for Peruvian agro-exports, thus accounting for 31.5% of total sales in the first quarter of 2021, followed by the Netherlands (17.2%), Spain (6%), Hong Kong (4.4%), Chile (3.7%), Ecuador (3.3%), China (3.3), among others.

(END) NDP/JJN/RMB

Published: 5/10/2021