Costa Rica has recorded an upturn in its tropical fruit export sales during the first half of this year, according to figures released by the nation’s Overseas Trade Promotion Agency (Procomer).
Pineapples maintained their position as the leading fruit export item, with sales value increasing by 4.1 per cent to US$387.1m in comparison to the year-earlier period.
Banana exports also rose by 4.6 per cent in value to US$385.1m between January and June, with the recovery in shipments (following a decline in volume due to inclement weather) marking “one of the most positive results”, according to Procomer.
Of that total, the organisation said US$28m-worth of banana sendings were shipped to the US, with US$22.9m headed for the UK.
Mango exports, meanwhile, almost doubled in value between January and May, with sales increasing from US$4.5m in 2010 to US$8.5m in 2011, Procomer said.
Shipments also grew nearly two-fold in volume terms, rising to 2.25m (4kg) cartons, compared with 1.21m cartons last year, according to the State Phytosanitary Service (SFS).
SFS attributed the growth in volume to improved weather and better conditions on plantations which helped to boost production.
Across all industries, Procomer said total sendings from the Central American country rose by 7.7 per cent to US$5.2bn during the first half of 2011.
The industrial sector represented US$3.7bn-worth of sendings, while the agricultural industry accounted for US$1.3bn-worth of sales.
The US remain the leading importer of Costa Rican goods, absorbing US$1.9bn worth of exports between January and June, followed by Central America (with US$1.04bn) and the European Union (US$975m).
Costa Rica is aiming to close the year with some US$10bn-worth of export sales, according to Procomer.
