Peru debuts banana exports to China

The Peruvian ag-sector reached a new milestone by kicking off fresh banana exports to China. 

The shipment consisted of 20 tons and was dispatched from the UPO packing plant, located in the district of Olmos, Lambayeque region.

"Access to the Chinese market demonstrates international confidence in the quality of Peruvian bananas and the rigorous phytosanitary system led by the National Agrarian Health Service," said the Vice Minister of Agrarian Development and Irrigation, Jorge Sáenz Rabanal.

Bananas that meet high Chinese phytosanitary standards

To unlock the Asian market, the National Agrarian Health Service (SENASA, for its initials in Spanish) implemented a control system that guarantees the fruit’s full traceability. 

The product comes from certified and inspected fields and was processed in plants that comply with the requirements established in the phytosanitary protocol signed between Peru and China, ensuring fruit free of pests and with high-quality standards.

Market diversification

Peruvian bananas have a solid presence in international markets. 

In 2025, the Andean country exported nearly 140,000 metric tons of the fruit, with the Netherlands (45,600 tons) and the United States (44,600 tons) as its main destinations. They were followed by Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and Japan.

In terms of exportable production, the Piura region accounts for 80 percent of national shipments, with around 112,000 metric tons, followed by Lambayeque with 16 percent (22,000 metric tons) and La Libertad with five percent (6,400 metric tons).

The opening of the Chinese market represents an opportunity to diversify export destinations, strengthen the competitiveness of the Peruvian banana sector, and generate new opportunities for producers on the country's northern coast.

*Main image courtesy of Peru’s Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation.

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