Asparagus

Peruvian asparagus exports rose by 14 per cent in value terms to US$220.6m between January and September this year, according to figures from Peru’s foreign trade department (ComexPerú).

The positive performance follows a 7.1 per cent decline in exports in 2010 against the previous year, reports Andina Peru.

Over the last four years, fresh or frozen asparagus exports from Peru have grown by an average of 10 per cent annually, ComexPerú stated.

Between the January and September period this year, the US received the bulk of Peru’s asparagus sendings.

Arrivals totalled US$50.5m, according to ComexPerú, which represents an increase of 17.6 per cent compared with the year-earlier period.

The Netherlands ranked as the second-largest export market, absorbing US$33.2m worth of exports (or up 8.8 per cent), followed by the UK with US$19.2m (+19.5 per cent), and Spain with US$14.6m (-1.5 per cent).

ComexPerú states that asparagus is one of the main non-traditional products exported by Peru.

The leading exporters of Peruvian asparagus include Complejo Agroindustrial Beta, Danper Trujillo and Camposol.