Export of fresh and refrigerated asparagus from Peru has grown on average by about 13 percent annually since 2008, according to ComexPeru. The Andina news agency reports that asparagus is the country’s top non-traditional agricultural export in the first half of 2013, according to official data. It was also the third most exported non-traditional export in that period.Asparagus shipments were up by 20 percent in the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year. The spring vegetable grew from $117 million to $141 million in shipments. ComexPeru, the country’s Foreign Trade Society, says that this growth was due to an 8.7 percent increase in the annual average asparagus price between 2008 and 2012.
Last year, the main destination for Peruvian asparagus was the United States, with shipments valued at $80 million, which is an increase of 25.5 percent year on year. In the Netherlands, another major importer of the crop, shipments were valued at $21 million, up 10.3 percent.The UK imported $15.7 million worth of asparagus, which is a jump of 81.2 percent.
The top asparagus exporters in Peru are Complejo Agroindustrial Beta with $27.9 million in sales, Camposol with $9.6 million, and Danper Trujillo with $9.4 million.
