Peruvian asparagus exports fell by more than 8% in volume and value in 2020
The balance in 2020 wasn't positive for Peruvian asparagus. According to the Executive Director of the Peruvian Asparagus and Vegetable Institute (IPEH), Carlos Zamorano Macchiavello, exports of this vegetable decreased by 8.8% in volume and 8.4% in value, totaling 158,317,000 kilos and $488,618,000.
In 2020, exports were led by shipments of fresh asparagus with 119,022,000 kilos of fresh asparagus (-9.63% over 2019) for 359,800,000 dollars (-8.61%). They were followed by canned asparagus, with 31,419,000 kilos (-2.18%) for 94,296,000 dollars (-3.17%), and frozen asparagus, with 7,800,000 kilos (-22.77%) for 34,400,000 dollars (-18.37%); the presentation that registered the greatest contraction.
According to Zamorano, the problems that asparagus faced in 2020 were circumstantial and due to COVID-19. The pandemic prevented carrying out commercial negotiations, generated restrictions in the field, caused the closure of the horeca channel in the destination markets, reduced commercial flights, and consequently increased air freight costs.