Peru's non-traditional agricultural exports totalled US$ 940 million in September this year, an increase of 18% over the same period 2012, according the Agricultural Producers Association of Guilds of Peru (AGAP).
The entity in its latest report said the sector's activity levels are due to the slight recovery of the North American and European markets.
"By September, shipments to the United States grew by 22.4 % over the previous year and those to the European Union behaved similarly with 17.2%," said Ana Maria Deustua, AGAP's general manager.
AGAP also reported that by early October the country exported 650,619 tonnes, up by 11,3% more than a year ago, freshplaza.com reported.
Likewise, the increase is explained by the production of asparagus, which rose both in price and volume. In September, asparagus exports billed US$ 278.3 million, 25.3% more than in the same period in 2012.
Avocados were worth 33% more than last year with shipments worth US$ 179.4 million, accompanied by a 36.9% rise in export volume.
Deustua estimated this growth would be sustained in the remainder of the year. "Thus, there would be a growth on the export of fruits and vegetables between 18 and 20% by the end of 2013 compared to the US$ 1,262 billion earned in 2012," she said.
