Generic mangoes

Peru has widened its worldwide mango export reach to 18 markets after the fruit was shipped to four new countries between January and February 2010 in comparison to the year-earlier period.

According to new figures released by the Peruvian Exporters Association (Adex), Portugal, Switzerland, China and Puerto Rico combined received almost US$116m-worth of the fruit during their inaugural year as importers of Peruvian mangoes.

The US overtook the Netherlands as the leading export destination in January and February, Adex said, receiving 40 per cent of total sendings or US$19.1m – an increase of 63 per cent in comparison to last year when imports were valued at US$11.7m.

The Netherlands ranked as the next largest market, accounting for US$18.3m in sales, followed by the UK, Spain, Canada, France, Chile, New Zealand, Germany, Belgium, Hong Kong and Italy, among others.

Peru’s total fresh and dried mango and mangosteen exports rose by 39 per cent in value during the period to some US$47.6m, according to Adex.