Peruvian agro-exports grew 0.8% in the first five months of the year

From January to May 2020, Peruvian agro-exports, including traditional and non-traditional products, reached a total of US $ 2,413 million, showing a slight increase of 0.8% compared to the same period of the previous year. This performance made it the only sector to report positive growth in the first five months of the year, despite the challenges presented by the pandemic and market downturns.

Traditional agricultural exports experienced significant declines, particularly in the early months due to reduced shipments of coffee, while value-added exports saw a growth in the early months but experienced a decrease in April. The United States and the Netherlands were the primary destinations for these exports, accounting for nearly 50% of the total, despite the pandemic leading to the loss of several markets and challenges such as worker shortages, logistical issues, and lower prices for consumers.

Notably, the grape was the leading product in terms of value, followed by avocados, fresh mangoes, and canned mangoes. However, exports of fresh asparagus, coffee, bananas, and other products experienced declines. In May, total agro-exports amounted to US $ 444 million, slightly below the figures from May 2019, but with some products, such as canned asparagus, cocoa beans, and tangerines, seeing increased exports compared to April. Erik Fischer Llanos, the president of the Association of Exporters, remains optimistic about the sector's resilience and expects a stronger showing in June, despite the challenges faced by the industry.