Peru’s agriculture export sector is unlikely to escape the impact of the economic world crisis, with effects expected to be felt during the second half of 2009 in particular, according to the country's Minister of Agriculture, Carlos Leyton.
“The entire agro-export sector will suffer some type of decrease in terms of speed when compared to the rate it was progressing,” Mr Leyton told Peruvian daily newspaper El Comercio.
The Minister explained to reporters that deceleration during the first half of 2009 would not be too serious but that things would be “clearer in the second half”.
Already Minister Leyton revealed that exports have decreased in comparison to last year, with products such as asparagus, artichoke, peppers and grapes being hit the hardest by the financial crisis.
“We have to wait and see what happens because there are agro-export sectors that will harvest their products in June,” he explained.
In terms of export markets, the Minister said Spain and China in particular had reduced their demand for Peruvian imports.
