Peruvian vegetable exports decrease by 3%

Most people expected the growth of Peruvian vegetable exports to continue this year.

However, from January to May 2022, vegetable shipments totaled $365 million, reflecting a decrease of 3 percent compared to the previous year, as reported by Portal Portuario.

Asparagus and artichokes stood out the most, with a joint share of 63 percent in shipments abroad.

Asparagus, so far this year, has added a total of 46,570 tons valued at $131 million, 2 percent less in volume and 7 percent less in value, becoming the product that drove the contraction.

Artichoke shipments reached 13,420 tons for $35 million, 35 percent more in volume and 43 percent more in value.

Until 2016, shipments in this sector had sustained a growth of 7 percent on average each year, reaching a maximum value of $839 million, a record for Peru.

The following two years, 2017 and 2018, were complicated due to “El Niño Phenomenon”, causing vegetable exports to contact by 2 percent on average each year, reaching a value of $798 million.

Despite this, Peruvian vegetables recovered and in 2019 reached $845 million, 6 percent more than the previous year.

The positive effects were repeated the next two years, despite the pandemic. Exports increased 7 percent on average during 2020 and 2021, breaking a record by adding $973 million last year.

This trend came to an end in 2022 with a 3 percent contraction.