In 2018, the trade balance between Peru and Germany was positive for Peru, as Peruvian exports to that market totaled US $ 1.127 billion, while imports amounted to US $ 1.049 billion, said the general manager of the Chamber of German Peruvian Trade and Industry, Antje Wandelt.
He also said that 58% of all Peruvian exports to Germany corresponded to the mining sector, 14.1% to the agricultural sector, 11.3% to the livestock sector, 5% to fishery products, 4.7% to the metallurgical sector, 3.4% to the textile sector, 2.2% to the chemical sector, and 1.3% to other sectors.
He added that six of the fifteen main products that Peru exported to Germany last year corresponded to the agricultural and livestock sectors: unroasted or decaffeinated coffees with US $154.5 million (position 2), Cavendish Valery bananas $18.5 million (position 7), fresh grapes US $ 18.5 million (position 8).
Other vegetables, fruits and edible plant parts, prepared or preserved in vinegar amounted to US $ 13.5 (place 9), prepared or preserved asparagus, without freezing reached US $ 10.4 million (place 12), and cocoa butter with an acidity index higher than 1% but less than or equal to 1.65% achieved US $ 10 million (position 13).
Antje Wnadelt said that the German consumer demanded quality, beneficial, safe, and sustainable food (especially young people); that has information about the product (origin, harvest, transport, distribution, cultivation conditions); that are regional and fresh products; unpacked products or with degradable packaging; manufactured with transparency; and natural products.
He said consumers didn't want products with genetic engineering, toxic substances, lack of transparency, and without traceability. "When a consumer goes to buy fruit in Germany, he asks for the product and its origin," said the general manager of the German-Peruvian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
He added that the products that had presented the highest increase in demand in the German market between 2012 and 2016 were: Proteins, such as quinoa, which increased by 77%, meat substitutes, such as soy or tofu, (+20%), vegetarian products (+20%), sustainable clothing (+12%), superfoods (+12%), special drinks (juice) (+11%), organic or bio products, fresh fruits. The last two sectors registered low growth because they already have a high market share.
In the case of fresh fruits, the high growth of berries stood out (imports of blueberries increased by 35% and raspberry imports grew by 15%). He also highlighted the increase in imports of citrus, pineapple, avocado, and mango. Finally, he highlighted the greatest dynamism of purchase of vegetables, and healthy and functional meals.
