Peruvian citrus exports are set to reach 115,000 tonnes this year, an increase on 20 per cent on 2013, according to citrus growers association ProCitrus. This is double the increase originally forecast by the association earlier this year.
ProCitrus CEO Sergio del Castillo said the estimate was revised in the light of more accurate estimates being available on output, fruit sizes and export volumes.
“ProCitrus makes an estimate after the physiological fall of the various varieties in December, but sometimes these estimates are somewhat imprecise and we have to wait until April or May to see how the fruit evolves after the summer,” he told Andina.
Del Castillo added that the higher volume would mean more fruit being shipped to all markets.
The sharp rise in Peruvian citrus exports in the first six months of 2014 is partly due to the increase in shipments of early season varieties. “Last season, domestic prices were higher during the early part of the season than on international markets, so many growers channelled their production to the local market,” del Castillo, told Fruitnet. “This year has seen a significant rise in output which, coupled with the earlier than usual start to the season, has resulted in far higher volumes going for export.”
Peru is the fourth biggest citrus producer in the Southern Hemisphere, with some 60,000ha generating more than 1m tonnes annually. Of this, only around one-tenth goes for export, the rest being consumed domestically both as juice and fresh.
Europe and Canada are the biggest export markets, however companies are now looking to increase mandarin shipments to Asia. “We’re hopeful that in 2015 the phytosanitary protocols will be established for shipments to Japan,” del Castillo said.
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