Peruvian grapes

Peruvian table grape exports rose by 134 per cent in value to some US$90.8m between October and December 2009, compared with US$38.8m in the year-earlier period, according to figures released by the Peruvian Exporters Association (Adex).

The bulk of the crop was shipped to the US, the Netherlands, the UK and Russia, Adex said, which combined represented US$62m-worth of sales.

Hong Kong and China also demanded a large volume of Red Globes in time for the Chinese New Year holiday, respectively absorbing some US$5.8m and US$2.4m-worth of fruit, an impressive 293 per cent and 115 per cent increase on the October-December period in 2008.

Volume-wise exports rose by 66 per cent in 2009, according to Adex. The year earlier shipments increased by 30 per cent, following growths of 31 per cent in 2007, 36 per cent in 2006 and 73 per cent in 2005.