Peru expects its mandarins will reach Japan and India this year

The general manager of the Association of Citrus Producers of Peru (Procitrus), Sergio del Castillo,…

The general manager of the Association of Citrus Producers of Peru (Procitrus), Sergio del Castillo, said Peru would open two new markets to its Satsuma mandarin this year.

Peru will start shipments to Japan in April, since the export protocols have already been validated, and Del Castillo expects India signs protocols this year.

Peruvian citrus growers are also targeting the markets of Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines.

To date, the main export destinations for Peruvian citrus fruits are the United States (37%), the United Kingdom (22%), the Netherlands (13%), Canada (8%), China (6%), Russia (4%), and Ireland (2%).

However, most of the Peruvian citrus fruits are consumed in Peru, as fresh fruits, as only 12% to 14% of the production is exported.

Peru exported 188,256 metric tons of citrus fruit worth nearly US $ 200 million in 2018, i.e. 22% more than the 166,615 tons it exported in 2017. "In 2019 we will exceed 200 million dollars," said Del Castillo.

In 2018 the country exported 137,443 metric tons of mandarins, i.e. 16.17% more than the 118,309 metric tons exported in 2017. The mandarin is the main citrus fruit for export, but Del Castillo said that there is a growing interest in orange and Tahiti limes among citrus buyers.

"We hope that stays true. We also expect to consolidate and increase mandarin exports," he said.

Citrus exports
Domestic consumption is growing but not as fast as production, which has generated a fall in prices in the domestic market, Del Castillo stated. The national production of mandarin, orange and lemon recorded an important growth from 2017 to 2018, due to technological innovation and better exploitation of cultivated hectares; however, the production of tangelo declined.

There are some 65,000 hectares cultivated with citrus fruits in the country, 9,000 of which are from members of Procitrus, which does not foresee an increase of these extensions in 2019.

"We can't produce the same volumes each year. Last year was a positive year for all varieties, as there was an important production. But that won't happen this year. Production will decrease in some varieties. We don't expect there will be an important growth in the production of mandarins, however, the other crops will have some growth," Sergio del Castillo said.