The agricultural export sector's economic expectations for this year are good. According to the Association of Agricultural Producers' Guilds of Peru (AGAP) and the consultancy Terra Business, all of Peru's agricultural export products have growth potential thanks to the global food revolution trend to consume healthy products.
According to both entities, blueberries will be the star export product for this year and avocados will stand out the most.
The president of AGAP, Ricardo Polis, stated that this year's blueberry exports would register the highest growth, as the country would export more than 57 thousand tons of this fruit, i.e. 30% more than in 2017. According to estimates, in the next three years the country will export some 100 thousand tons.
"The country's export volume has to continue growing and we have to reach new countries. We have already reached the largest markets, such as the United States, China, and some countries in Europe, but we must continue working to reach Russia, Japan, and Korea in the next two years," he said.
In turn, the general manager of Terra Business, Federico Beltran, stressed that the country planned to become the main exporter of fresh blueberries in the southern hemisphere. "This product is in an accelerated growth phase and transitioning from supplying a niche market to a global market," he said.
Hass avocado, stronger
According to Ricardo Polis, the avocado is another product that will fare very well this year, as Peru is becoming the main supplier of the Hass variety. According to him, exports of Hass avocado this year would increase up to 15% and reach more than 258 thousand tons.
"We must continue to develop the market in China, as they previously did not consume avocado; bet on India, which is a new market, and work in Italy, which does not consume this product. Peru already exports avocado to Japan, the United States and Europe," he said.
Other products
The country also expects grape exports will fare well. According to AGAP, the country is becoming a supplier of red, green and black grapes without better quality seed, in line with its commitment to change this product's varieties.
"Two years ago, 75% of the area sown with grapes in the country was of the Red Globe type, now it is only 50%, as producers are also planting better quality grape varieties. The price of these new grapes that are being planted is 20% higher than the red globe," Ricardo Polis added.
According to forecasts, the level of grape exports would be similar to that of 2017, as this product was affected last year by the impact of the El Niño phenomenon.
