RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – According to FreshFruit estimates, during the first quarter of 2022, imports of agricultural products from Peru made by Germany totaled US$233 million, 53% above what was achieved in 2021 in the same period of time.
In line with the above, between January and March 2022, the European country purchased fruits and vegetables for a total of US$10.539 billion, a similar amount to the previous year (US$10.546 billion).
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Acquisitions of Peruvian products account for those that are made directly (without intermediaries) and indirectly (includes intermediaries, mainly the Netherlands). Thus, according to the evaluations of the company specialized in commercial intelligence for the agro-export sector, 44% of the Peruvian products that were sent to Germany arrived indirectly in the first quarter of the year.
According to official figures, which measure direct exports, Germany is the fifth most important market for the Peruvian agro-export basket, with a 4% share. “But if indirect shipments are added, it is actually the second most important market, with a 7% share, only surpassed by the United States (37%),” the company pointed out.
The main Peruvian products imported by Germany during 2022 were coffee, mango and grapes, which together had a 67% share (8 percentage points more than the previous year). With the exception of mango, which remained stable, grapes and coffee had positive results.
COFFEE
In Germany, coffee purchases reached 281,260 tons for US$1.174 billion, 3% less in volume and 66% more in value compared to the previous year. Of the total, Peruvian coffee imports totaled 17,168 tons for US$86 million, 58% more in volume and 117% more in value compared to the same period in 2021.
“This is one of the few products that is shipped mainly directly, since only 20% of exports go through an intermediary market,” FreshFruit emphasized.
MANGO
In the first quarter of the year, mango imports in Germany totaled 27,898 tons for US$58 million, 10% less in volume and a contraction of 11% in value compared to the same period the previous year. Of the total, purchases of mango from Peru were 18,057 tons for US$32 million, 13% more in volume and value similar to the previous year.
“Unlike coffee, 96% of Peruvian mangoes reach Germany indirectly. If only direct shipments are considered, Germany is in 12th place in the top destinations, with less than 1% share. However, when adding the indirect ones, the European country climbs to second place, with 11% participation”, clarified the commercial intelligence company.
GRAPE
Grape imports by Germany totaled 52,483 tons for US$127 million in the first quarter of 2022, 15% less in volume and 23% more in value compared to the previous year. Of the total, 10,153 tons of grapes come from Peru, totaling US$21 million; 163% more in volume and 98% more in value compared to the same period in 2021.
“It is worth mentioning that 99% of Peruvian grape shipments are made indirectly. If only direct remittances are considered, Germany would rank 25th in the ranking, with a share of less than 1%. On the contrary, if indirect exports are included, the European country rises to position 5, with 8% participation”, concluded the Peruvian firm.