Quinoa exports of Bolivia decreased, and a part comes out with a Peruvian stamp

Marco Belmonte / La Paz Quinoa exports have decreased for years in value and volume due to lower prices and competition from new producers in the world, but the sector also warns that the product goes to Peru illegally, by smuggling . According to figures from the National Institute of Statistics (INE), Bolivia in 2013 exported quinoa for 153.2 million dollars, and in 2014 for 196.6 million dollars, a record figure. But last year sales fell to 61.7 million dollars, 33.2% less than in 2020. In contrast, Peru displaced the country as the first producer and exporter of the grain. The manager of Sindan Organic SRL, Thania Huayllani, explained that Peru achieves more sales despite the fact that it does not produce the same royal quinoa as Bolivia, because it has better yields. It projects seven tons per hectare, while in the country barely half a ton per hectare. National production has organic certification and a fair price certificate in the European Union, but that does not make ...