Shipments exceeded US$40mn for the first time last year
Exports of Colombian physalis topped US$40mn for the first time in 2024, according to data from Analdex.
The fruit, also known as goldenberry, has become one of the top five most exported Colombian fruits behind bananas, avocados, Persian limes and passion fruit.
The five main export markets were the Netherlands (US$25.5mn), the US (US$6.6mn), Germany (US$3.5mn), Belgium (US$1.6mn) and Canada (US$1.4mn).
Analdex president Javier Díaz said: “Fresh fruits are an important driver of the country’s agricultural exports and physalis is one of the protagonists, since Colombia is the main producer and exporter of this fruit in the world. This opens up a large market for us, not only in Europe and the US but throughout the world”.
Most exports come from the departments of Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Antioquia, Boyacá and Caldas.
Carlos Lozano, director of the Analdex Physalis Exporters Committee, said: “Physalis is a product that has stood out for years, as it has been growing annually around 10 per cent, staying at that figure and gradually increasing, unlike other fruits that have constantly suffered ups and downs”.
According to LegisComex, in 2024 Colombia represented 94 per cent of global production physalis. Second place was Ecuador with 2.9 per cent and Peru with 2.7 per cent.
Lozano pointed out that as physalis is such a labour-intensive fruit to grow, it is an important generator for employment in the areas where it is grown.
