Peru exceeds US$1 billion in exports to the United States in a quarter for the first time

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Between January and March 2022, imports of agricultural products in the United States totaled US$19.6 billion, 18% more than in the same period in 2021.

Of the total imported by the North American country, purchases of fruits, vegetables, and grains from Peru reached US$1.2 billion, which meant an increase of 35% compared to the first quarter of 2021, marking the milestone of being the first time that Peruvian exports surpassed the US$1 billion barrier in a quarter, according to FreshFruit.

The increase in food purchases by the United States was driven by imports of coffee and corn, which showed an increase of over 40%. In the same line, Peruvian shipments increased due to coffee, whose imports grew 131%, and fruits, which increased 33%.

The main Peruvian products imported by the United States were grapes, blueberries, and coffee, which accounted for 67% of imports.

GRAPES

The United States imported 347,939 tons of grapes for US$1.1 billion, an increase of 3% in volume and 17% in value compared to the same period of the previous year.

Purchases of the fruit from Peru totaled 162,918 tons for US$571 million, an increase of 20% in volume and 34% in value compared to the first quarter of 2021.

The average price of grapes in the United States was US$3.27 per kilogram, 13% more than the first quarter of 2021.

Peruvian grapevines traded at US$3.51 per kilogram (+12%) in this market.

BLUEBERRY

Imports of blueberry in the United States totaled 98,005 tons for US$654 million, up 13% in volume and 16% in value compared to the first quarter of 2021.

Peruvian berry purchases totaled 18,575 tons for US$110 million, a positive variation of 91% in volume and 92% in value compared to the same period last year.

During these months, the main blueberry suppliers in the United States were Chile (50% share, nine percentage points less than the previous year), Mexico (30%, one percentage point more), and Peru (19%, eight percentage points more).

The average price of blueberries in the United States was US$6.68 per kilogram, 2% more than the first quarter of 2021.

The Peruvian fruit was the lowest priced at US$5.91 per kilogram.

COFFEE

Coffee imports in the United States totaled 401,449 tons for US$2.2 billion, 9% more in volume and 57% more in value than the same period of the previous year.

Purchases of the bean from Peru totaled 18,835 tons for US$102 million, 184% more in volume and 264% more in value compared to the first quarter of 2021.

In these months, the main suppliers of coffee to the United States were Brazil (30% share with six percentage points less than the previous year) and Colombia (21% with two percentage points less).

In the case of Peru, the country climbed two positions in the ranking and had a share of 5% (three percentage points more).

The average price of coffee in the United States was US$5.56 per kilogram, 44% more than the first quarter of 2021.

The best-priced coffee was Colombian coffee, with an average price of US$6.12 per kilogram, 48% more; followed by Peruvian coffee, with US$5.42 per kilogram, 28% more.

On the other hand, the worst-priced coffee was Brazilian, with US$4.19 per kilogram, 67% more.

With information from Portal Portuario