Peru Red Globe grapes

An increased number of plantings and larger yields from young plantations could be set to boost Peru's table grape export volumes, according to the country's Central Reserve Bank (BCR).

Information from the BCR reported by Andina noted that the Ministry of Agriculture had installed some 4,500 acres of table grapes over the past three years, which could lead to export growth of 20 per cent by 2013, equivalent to some 45,000 tonnes.

Exports for the January-November period last year reached US$200m in value terms, BCR said, making table grapes the second most valuable fresh produce export after asparagus.

The leading importer of Peru's grapes was the US, taking on some 24 per cent of overall exports, followed by the Netherlands (14 per cent), Hong Kong (13 per cent) and Russia (12 per cent).