Peru’s non-traditional agriculture exports rebounded in January 2010, with sales reaching some US$179.9m – an increase of 16 per cent in comparison to the same period last year, according to the Peruvian Exporters Association (Adex).

The positive performance comes on the back of a 3 per cent fall in export value during 2009, due primarily to an increase in table grape (due to greater demand from the US and Hong Kong) and asparagus sendings, which represented 26 per cent and 17 per cent of total exports, respectively.

According to figures from Adex Data Trade, Peru exported some US$45.9m-worth of table grapes in January (up 47 per cent on the previous year) and US$30.1m-worth of asparagus.

Meanwhile, mango exports (including fresh, prepared, conserved and juice) reached US$29.5m in value, a growth of 32 per cent on January 2009.

The US represented the leading export market for Peru’s agro-exports in January, absorbing US$56.2m-worth of the sales, up 23 per cent on 2009.

The second-largest destination was the Netherlands with US$27.8m of sales, a growth of 7 per cent in comparison to January 2009, followed by Spain (US$15.4m), Hong Kong (US$9.5m), Ecuador, the UK, Colombia, China, France and Germany.