Peruvian exports reached a record US$4.18bn in value during 2011, a 23 per cent increase on 2010, according to new figures from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture (Minag).
In the agricultural export category, the result was driven by sendings of coffee, followed by avocados and cacao.
Avocados registered an impressive 94 per cent increase in export value to US$164.3m due mainly to the fact that Mexico and the US (the world’s leading producers of avocados) reduced their output in 2011 coupled with higher international prices as a consequence.
In other fruit categories, Minag said tangerines also benefited from a 24 per cent increase in international prices, as well as bananas and table grapes (21 per cent respectively), among others.
Europe and the US were the leading buyers of Peruvian food products last year, according to the report.
Europe retained its position of leadership, absorbing 44 per cent of the export total, mainly the Netherlands, Germany and Spain.
The US, meanwhile, maintains a level of importance, accounting for 26 per cent of exports, Minag said, while the remaining 30 per cent of sendings was distributed in other global markets.
Of the US$4.18bn total, traditional exports represented US$1.4bn, while non-traditional products accounted for US$2.7bn.
