The northern Peruvian department of Lambayeque's frozen mango exports recorded a 15% year-on-year rise in value for the first four months of 2012 at US$4.83 million, website Agraria.pe reported.

However, Lambayeque's Association of Regional Exporters (AREX) research head Carlos Ypanaqué Estrada, said volumes showed a 5% year-on-year decrease at 2,700 metric tons (MT). Higher freight on board prices (FOB) were what drove up values.

"The contradiction with regards to comparative value and volume is because the value of individually quick frozen (IQF) mangoes per kilogram has risen by 20% from US$1.50 to US$1.80 so far this year," he was quoted as saying.

He said IQF mango exports had grown over the last five years with FOB prices increasing significantly, which was backed up by Infotrade data showing values had increased by 123% and in volume by116% from 2010- 2011 .

The U.S. accounted for 67% of the value of all exports, followed by the U.K. at 9.28%, Canada with 8%, Belgium at 6.65% with the Netherlands, Germany, Chile and Puerto Rico accounting for 8.93%.

In the last five years Procesadora Perú SAC has become Lambayeque's leading exporter of frozen mangoes.

Peru's National Metreological and Climate Service (Senamhi) expert Martín López Ríos, reported fresh Kent mango flowering in Lambayeque has been delayed by a month because of lack of minimum temperatures in June.

However, the problem was less acute for Edward Olmos and Otupe which were able to flower in the second and last week of June because of their lower thermal requirements.

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