By the end of 2015 capsicum exports had reached 271.8 million dollars, i.e. 19% over the previous year, thanks to the increase in demand of canned and dried capsicum. According to the Exporters Association (Adex), this trend would continue this year and exports would grow by 20%.
"This year's growth will be the same as last year's because now we'll offer fresh and frozen capsicum, so there should be an increase in orders that would allow us to grow by 20%," said Renzo Gomez, the president of Adex's Capsicum committee.
However, he said, the growth expected for 2016 can be affected by El Niño, which caused some plague problems in 2015.
Export basket
According to ADEX, canned capsicum had the highest in 2015, as orders increased by 18% and they amounted to 156.8 million dollars, i.e. 58% of the sector's exports.
Piquillo pepper exports stood out, as they increased by 43% because Spain, their main destination, was lacking inventory and therefore imported more.
Dry capsicum exports ranked second with 99.3 million and a 10% increase in orders due to an increase in prices in various markets. Frozen capsicum and fresh capsicum followed with 14.9 million dollars and fresh 695,000, respectively.
According to the exporter guild, the main destination for capsicum products in 2015 was the US, which made purchases for 139.6 million dollars, 29% more than in the previous year.
The US was followed by Spain with 55.1 million dollars, Mexico, Germany, Puerto Rico, the United Kingdom, Canada, the Netherlands, Chile, France, etc.
Peru to host
It should be noted that Peru will host the 23rd edition of the International Pepper Conference, which will be held from June 15th to the 17th in Trujillo, which will allow the country to show its offer and to position itself as a major supplier of these products.
"We expect the conference will be attended by 700 people from around the world," concluded the exporter guild.
