Peru expects sharp uptick in banana exports during 2018
Peru's banana exports are expected to see a huge lift this year, rising from 8,320 containers in 2017 to 10,400, according to local media Agraria.pe.
The 25% increase - which would see 200 containers shipped per week compared to 160 - was announced by National Banana Association (JNB) president Valentín Ruíz Delgado, who attributed the rise to the recovery from flooding in 2016 and 2017.
"Now the plantations are recovering from the aftermath of the flooding in South America that stressed these plants, delayed development, caused early ripening, rotted the roots and even caused plants to fall over," he was quoted as saying.
The main markets for Peruvian bananas are the U.S., Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia and Japan. Shipments are also on the up to Asian markets like China and Taiwan.
The representative added that it was important to have water resources available to the sector, explaining that growers currently watered their plantations every two months but that if they could do it every 20 days then the yields would increase.
"There are projects aims to continue to increase the banana-growing area in Piura but for this to happen we need water to be available," he said.
One container is equivalent to 1,080 18.14kg-equivalent boxes, which reportedly fetch an average price of US$13 per box.
In Peru there are 8,000 hectares of export-oriented banana plantations, with 6,500 hectares located in Piura.
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