Camposol is looking forward to boosting its citrus exports this year as the company continues to develop its latest emerging category offer, the company told Americafruit.
The forecast comes in line with an expected growth in overall Peruvian citrus exports this year, including a “considerable increase” in mandarin volume, thanks to normal weather conditions to date.
The Peruvian fresh produce giant claims it exclusively exports W Murcott mandarins, mainly to the European market, but is currently trialling a number of new varieties.
By 2014 or 2015 the group also hopes to also access the US market with fruit grown in La Libertad, one of the centres of mandarin production in Peru.
On the whole, Peru mainly grows citrus in the regions of Ica and Lima which have both seen strong growth in exports over the last few years.
In just three years, Camposol claims Peruvian citrus exports have risen by a staggering 90.9 per cent to 89,245 tonnes in 2012, up from 46,738 tonnes in 2009.
Value-wise, the shipments last year accounted for some US$83m, with the crop comprising mainly mandarins, as well as tangerines and oranges.
The UK currently ranks as Peru’s most important citrus market, according to Camposol, followed closely by the Netherlands and then Canada, Ireland and Russia. Peru also exports some soft citrus to the US.
