Peruvian organic bananas

Peruvian fruit exports to Japan rose sharply in the first two months of 2016 compared to the year-earlier period, driven by strong demand for mangoes and organic bananas.

The figures, reported by the Commercial Office of Peru (OCEX) in Tokyo, said the increase came in spite of the moderate to strong effects of El Niño on Peruvian production this season.

Turnover from organic bananas in January and February reached US$517m, up from US$376m in the same period of 2015.

Significantly, this fruit (which is grown only in Tumbes and Piura) did not show any decline in volume or quality due to the effects of El Niño, OCEX said.

Shipments of fresh mango in the same period increased by 121 per cent, from US$1.1m in 2015 to US$2.4m in 2016.