Peru grape packing

New statistics released by the Peruvian Exporters' Association (Adex) have revealed that the country enjoyed a considerable year-on-year improvement in fresh and processed fruit exports through the first six months of the year.

According to the Association, Peru's exports came to US$293.3m (€228.8m) during the first half of the year, up by 41 per cent, or US$85m (€66m), on the same period of 2009.

The most popular export products were led by fresh table grapes, which grew by 75 per cent year-on-year to US$61.9m (€48.3m), followed by fresh mangoes (up 64 per cent to US$61.7m, €48.1m), fresh avocados (up 15 per cent to US$52.6m, €41m) and Cavendish bananas (up 0.2 per cent to US$26.6m, €20.7m).

Major export destinations for Peru's fruit products included the Netherlands, which accounted for 33 per cent or US$98.1m (€76.5m) of total sales, the US with 24 per cent (US$69.6m, €54.3m) of shipments, Spain with 8 per cent, Hong Kong with 6 per cent and the UK with 6 per cent, among others.