Peruvian agricultural exports to the European Union (EU) rose by 25 per cent in value during 2008, recording the 10th consecutive year of growth and consolidating the mainland as Peru’s biggest market, according to a report by AgroNegocios Peru.

Figures from Peru’s Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) indicate Peru’s exports jumped 25 per cent to US$2.7bn last year, up from US$2.1bn in 2007.

The EU’s agricultural imports from Peru, grew to over US$1.1bn, accounting for 42 per cent of the South American country’s total exports.

Germany, Spain and the Netherlands alone absorbed 62 per cent of the volume, while the US remained the second-largest market for Peruvian agricultural items, representing imports worth some US$780m or 29 per cent of Peru’s total agricultural exports.

Other markets include the Andean Community (CAN), Mexico, Haiti, Venezuela and Chile which combined account for approximately one-third of total exports.

Peru’s major agricultural export products in 2008 included fresh oranges and table grapes, canned olives, coffee, avocados, bananas, asparagus, artichokes and paprika, among other items.

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