onions

Peruvian onion exporters have enjoyed a strong first half of 2010, with shipments up by a massive 255.8 per cent when compared with the same period last year.

Consulting firm Maximixe revealed that Peru's onion export value came to US$56m through the six-month period, boosted by an increase in shipments to Spain where value climbed by 721.7 per cent, Andina reported.

Also driving the export increase was higher demand in Chile, which recorded 1,000 per cent growth in imported volumes followed by Colombia at 84.1 per cent and the US at 28.3 per cent.

In 2009, Peru's onion exports climbed 31.1 per cent year-on-year in value to reach US$27.9m, with volumes up 40.9 per cent to 101,300 tonnes.