LIMA, March 30 (NNN-ANDINA) — The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) estimated that Peru’s agricultural exports could reach sales of more than US$12 billion by 2025, in the absence of trade restrictions or severe weather impacts.
As reported by the economist Cesar Romero —an expert in international trade at Midagri— in recent years, Peru’s agricultural exports have experienced an average growth of 12.5% per year between 2000 and 2022, which has positioned Peru as one of the top 10 food suppliers in the world.
“This enabled agricultural exports to hit a record high of US$10.421 billion at the end of 2022; the amount not only includes agricultural products, but also livestock items, as well as exports of timber products and derivatives,” Romero stressed.
The economist remarked that Peru’s most prominent export products are blueberries, grapes, coffee, avocados, asparagus, and mangoes, which account for 52% of the entire universe of food products sold by Peru, adding that fruits alone represent 47% of the agro-export basket.
For example, Romero referred to the production of Peruvian avocados, which have conquered 39 markets around the globe, with the U.S. and Europe being the most important destinations. Peruvian avocado suppliers comprise 264 local companies located in the highlands and coast, mainly small-sized producers who stay organized.
A similar case is that of coffee exports, which involve the participation of 115 associations of producers and cooperatives to sell coffee beans abroad, valued at US$335 million out of a total of US$1.221 billion registered exports.
According to the economist, Peruvian products currently reach more than 130 markets around the world. Fresh products Romero remarked that the consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables —ideally organic, functional, and nutraceutical ones— are preferred around the world. “Peru is the world’s leading exporter of blueberries and grapes, among other products in great demand in the market,” he stated.
For his part, the head of Statistics, Monitoring and Policy Evaluation at Midagri, Christian Garay, noted that despite the problems caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and weather events (drought, floods and others), agricultural exports hit a record high of US$10 billion in 2022 and could exceed US$11 billion this year. — NNN-ANDINA
