Peru Fuerte Avocado

Peru continues to consolidate it position on the world avocado market after recording US$22.6m in sales during the January-April period of 2009 – up 37 per cent on the year-earlier period, according to data from the Peruvian Exporters’ Association’s (Adex) Market Intelligence System (Adex Data Trade).

The Netherlands became the leading importer during the period, Adex said, absorbing 67.3 per cent of the total volume or US$15.3m worth of the fruit – an increase of 37 per cent on the previous year.

Spain ranked the second-largest receiver with US$3.9m worth of imports or 17 per cent of the crop, followed by the UK (with US$1.9m or 8 per cent), France (US$1.2m), Canada, Portugal and Chile, among other destinations.

Portugal emerged as a new market during the first four months of 2009 in comparison to last year.

Adex also continues to work in coordination with the Association of Pervian Hass Avocados Producers (ProHass) and the Peruvian National Agrarian Sanitation Service (Senasa) to open up new destinations.

Currently, the organisations are looking forward to confirming entry for Peruvian avocados in the US.

Some 65 companies exported fresh avocados during the January-April period of 2009. Peru also shipped a US$1.3m-worth of avocado-derived products during the same period, including guacamole, oil and shampoo.