Peruvian pomegranates on the up

Peruvian pomegranate exports are showing signs of recovery after two years of stagnation according to Fresh Fruit Peru. Although the season is only at the halfway stage, the consultancy expects it to close with growth of 16-19 per cent, breaking a two-year negative streak.

The bulk of Peru’s crop is shipped between January and June, but in 2023 and 2024, production and exports were severely impacted by El Niño. The current season got off to a slow start due to a cold snap in the main growing area in January, but by March, volumes had recovered.

By the end of the first quarter, 24,820 tonnes of pomegranates worth US$59mn had been exported, representing an increase of 18 per cent in volume and almost 5 per cent in value.

The improved results come despite a fall in average prices due to increased shipment volumes and an overlap with production in Turkey and South Africa, whose harvests were up to four weeks earlier this year. The resulting oversupply pushed prices down to an average of US$2.38/kg, 12 per cent lower than in the year-earlier period.

Fresh Fruit Peru noted that a further cause for optimism this season has been the increase in shipments to secondary markets beyond the traditional destinations of the US and Europe. These include Canada and the UAE, which saw volume increases of 42 per cent and 69 per cent respectively in the first three months of this year.

Whole fruit makes up around 94 per cent of Peru’s export volume, with arils accounting for the remainder. The Ica region supplied 75 per cent of the country’s export volume; followed by Arequipa, with 22 per cent and Lima, with 2 per cent.