Peru aims to become the fifth-largest cocoa producer

One of the main challenges for Peruvian cocoa exports is to comply with the provisions of the main buyers, especially from Europe. Shipments abroad (exports) of Peruvian cocoa and its derivatives amounted to US$ 613 million 643 thousand between January and July of this year, showing a great growth of 200% compared to the same period in 2023 when it totaled US$ 204 million 616 thousand, reported the president of the Coffee and Cocoa Committee of the Association of Exporters (ADEX), José Mejía Polanco. “The good performance is due to the increase in the price of cocoa by 300%. While in March of last year it was quoted at US$ 2,900 per ton, now it is around US$ 11,500. The shortage also influences, the world needs more than 5 million tons of cocoa and the production is 4 million 400 thousand, that is, there is an unmet demand of more than 800 thousand tons due to climate problems, pests or viruses,” he explained. Thanks to the great versatility of national cocoa – he continued – in ...