Exports of Peruvian mandarins rose 20.3 per cent to US$37.4m in value during the January-August period of this year, according to a statement from the Peruvian Ministry of Agriculture (Minag).
Volume-wise the export total increased by 9.5 per cent to 36,000 tonnes, up from the 33,000 tonnes shipped during the year-earlier period, the report said.
Mandarins represent Peru’s fifth-largest fruit export, accounting for 6.9 per cent of exports on the back of a consistent rate of growth since 2005 when 19,000 tonnes were shipped.
The bulk of the crop was distributed in the UK, which absorbed 30.9 per cent or 11,100 tonnes, followed by Canada (20.9 per cent or 7,500 tonnes) and the Netherlands (18.5 per cent or 6,700 tonnes).
Minag said the US also received mandarins from Peru this year, accounting for 15.5 per cent of sendings or 5,600 tonnes as well as Ireland which took 4.7 per cent or 1,700 tonnes.
The biggest mandarin exporter in Peru is currently Consorcio de Productores de Fruta (CPF), according to Minag, with sales of over US$16.9m this season, up 19 per cent against last year.
Other suppliers include Procesadora Laran (with sales of US$8.1m), Agrícola Las Marias (US$2.7m), Compañia de Export. y Negoc. Generales (US$2.5m), and Corporacion Fruticola de Chincha (US$1,7m).
