Guatemalan papaya value exports decreased by 26% during 2021.

In 2021 Guatemala's export value for papaya was USD 21.6M, a decrease of 26% compared to USD 29.2M registered in 2021. In 2021 many exporters reported the presence of the meleira virus in their plantations; this virus affects papaya production, causing a massive reduction in crop yield. The only region allowed to export papaya in Guatemala is the Peten department, a zone free of Mediterranean fly, but now exporters are struggling to mitigate the effects of meleira. In 2022 exporters reported that the virus is controlled in many plantations, and they expect to increase production and exports to international markets, mainly the US.