Peru's exports of passion fruit and its derivatives rose by 50% year-on-year during the first quarter of 2014, achieving a new record of US$10.4 million.

The result is 22% higher than the previous record of US$8.5 million reached for the same period in 2011.

The figures were calculated by the agricultural division of the country's Association of Exporters (ADEX), highlighting the majority of the fruit is grown around Lima and in northern Peru.

Passion fruit juice makes up the majority of shipments at 88.5%, and most shipments of this category are sent to the Netherlands which receives 84%.

The second-largest importer of Peruvian passion fruit juice was the U.S. with purchases worth US$500,000, followed by Puerto Rico (US$300,000), France, Chile, Honduras, the U.K., Panama and Germany.

ADEX reported the industry shipped US$400,000 worth of frozen passion fruit as well, representing a year-on-year export spike of 134.8%.

The association reported there were currently 41 exporting companies engaged in passion fruit and its derivatives, with Quicornac as the largest, followed by Agromar Industrial, Agroindustrias AIB, Corporación Lindley, Frutos Tongorrape and Selva Industrial.

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