Classification
Product TypeRaw Material
Product FormDry (Shelled)
Industry PositionPrimary Agricultural Product
Raw Material
Market
Pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan), locally marketed as frijol de palo or gandul, are a niche grain-legume in Peru with cultivation and agroindustrial processing documented in northern coastal valleys (e.g., Jayanca, Lambayeque). Peru has an established export channel for dried pigeon peas under tariff item 0713609000; PROMPERÚ (compiled from SUNAT) reports 2025 exports of USD 3.72 million and 2,071.48 tonnes (data updated 2026-02-09). Domestically, pigeon peas sit within Peru’s broader “menestras/legumbres” category that MIDAGRI highlights as produced by family agriculture for both national and export markets. For imports into Peru, plant products are regulated by SENASA, and non-compliance with phytosanitary requirements can delay or block entry.
Market RoleNiche producer and exporter with domestic consumption market
Domestic RolePart of the national grain-legume (“menestras”) consumption basket; niche item relative to Peru’s broader legumes sector
Market GrowthMixed (2024–2025 export snapshot; medium-term domestic legumes context)export growth in 2025 vs 2024 alongside an established domestic legumes consumption trend
SeasonalityNorthern-coast supply is seasonal, with green pods earlier in the year and dried grain availability later; exporters also position product as available year-round via storage and processing formats.
Specification
Physical Attributes- Small seeds; beige to brown/gray tones, often mottled (commercial descriptions in exporter catalogs)
Compositional Metrics- Moisture commonly specified around max 14% in exporter technical sheets
- Seed count (e.g., ~540–580 seeds per 100 g) used as a commercial sizing reference in exporter listings
Grades- Foreign matter and defect thresholds are commonly specified in exporter sheets (e.g., foreign matter ~0.5% and imperfect grains ~3.5% as indicative targets)
Packaging- Bulk polypropylene sacks (commonly 25 kg or 50 kg) for dry grain export trade
- Retail/brand packs are offered by some exporters on request
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Farm production (northern coastal valleys) → drying → cleaning/sorting → bulk bagging → containerized export
- Parallel channel: green pigeon peas processed into frozen or canned formats by agroindustrial processors
Temperature- Dry-chain discipline (low humidity; avoid condensation) is critical to prevent mold and insect activity during storage and ocean transit
Shelf Life- Shelf-life performance depends on moisture control, clean sorting, and effective pest management in storage
Freight IntensityMedium
Transport ModeSea
Risks
Regulatory Compliance HighFor pigeon peas and other plant products entering Peru, SENASA phytosanitary compliance is a potential deal-breaker: missing/incorrect import authorization (PFI where required), missing phytosanitary certification when applicable, or findings during inspection can trigger retention, additional controls, or non-clearance (unfavorable RIV).Before shipment, confirm SENASA import requirements for the exact product and origin, secure PFI where required, and align the phytosanitary certificate’s additional declarations/treatments (if any) to SENASA’s published requirements; run a pre-shipment document and cleanliness/pest check.
Food Safety MediumDried pigeon peas are susceptible to quality loss and potential safety issues (e.g., mold risk) if moisture control and storage hygiene are weak during warehousing or long sea transits.Use moisture/defect specs in contracts, require clean and dry packaging, and implement storage pest-management and humidity controls; verify COAs where available.
Logistics MediumOcean-freight volatility and port disruption can increase delivered cost and create scheduling risk for containerized dried legumes shipments to/from Peru, especially for niche-volume lanes.Build lead-time buffers, diversify carriers/ports where feasible, and contract with clear demurrage/rollover handling terms.
FAQ
What HS code is used for dried pigeon peas in trade documentation?The Harmonized System (HS) 6-digit code is 071360 for dried, shelled pigeon peas (Cajanus cajan). Peru’s export statistics for this product are reported under tariff item 0713609000 (except for sowing) in PROMPERÚ dashboards compiled from SUNAT.
Which phytosanitary steps are commonly required to import pigeon peas (plant products) into Peru?SENASA requires importers to check the approved phytosanitary requirements for the specific product and origin, obtain a Permiso Fitosanitario de Importación (PFI) before shipment when required, and present an official phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country when applicable. On arrival, the shipment is inspected and clearance depends on receiving a favorable Reporte de Inspección y Verificación (RIV).
Does Peru export pigeon peas, and what is the recent export scale?Yes. PROMPERÚ (compiled from SUNAT records) reports that Peru exported USD 3.72 million and 2,071.48 tonnes in 2025 under tariff item 0713609000 (arvejas/guisantes de palo, gandú o gandul except for sowing), with the dashboard updated on 2026-02-09.