Shortly after the end of the mango export campaign (started last October and will end in April prmaximum), the agricultural sector is preparing to record a new record of shipments, with some 220 thousand tons (t) exported, according to Día1 Juan Carlos Rivera, general manager of the Peruvian Association of Mango Producers and Exporters (APEM). Thus, this number will exceed the volumes of the 31/2018 campaign by 2019%, when 168 thousand tons were exported; and by 8% those of the 2017/2018 campaign, when the 204 thousand t were reached. Despite the good result, this record will not cover the ceiling estimated by the union, which was 229 thousand tons.

The seesaw in the inter-annual results has to do with a condition of fruit trees: alternation. An effect that the hoses - distributed over some 31 hectares of the coastal valleys between Piura and Áncash - have been able to overcome. Of this, the 5% growth in average of mango shipments in the last decade speaks of and the position of Peru as the world's fourth largest exporter of fruit.

What has defined the current export campaign?

Apart from the greater volume, the smaller sizes, that is, the smaller size of the fruit. The usual thing is to harvest mango sizes 7, 8 and 9 (that is, in a box between that number of fruits), but this time the average has been 8,9 and 10. The main challenge posed by the small size is not meets buyers' expectations, Rivera explains.

"It has to do with the preference of the consuming public, but also with a logistical and commercial issue, since fewer mangoes fit in a box. If a consumer sees a smaller mango, they will prefer not to buy it ”, he maintains.

The frozen food industry also looks at it suspiciously, since having little pulp, much pepa, is not attractive. Still, take advantage of it. Last January, shipments of this presentation increased 22%, according to Comex. "It is a reflection of the large production and that part of it has not been marketed as a strawberry," Rivera analyzes.

The price per kilo also reacted to higher volumes, according to the report by consultancy Fresh Fruit on March 3. In the United States it fell 4%; and in the Netherlands (the main port gateway to Europe), it fell 8%.

It had not only to do with Peru, but with the productive dynamics of our neighboring Ecuador, because instead of concluding its export season in mid-January, it continued shipping until the end of that month. "This situation saturated the market and dragged prices down," concludes Fresh Fruit.

In general, for Rivera the campaign balance was positive, since the price for the total quantity exported is higher than in previous campaigns.

In his opinion, it is also notable the effort of the sector in the implementation of the so-called "system aproach" (a method by which traps are placed and cultural activities favorable to cleaning are promoted), to reduce the incidence of fruit flies in the field, a plague on which the European Union raised the phytosanitary fence last year.

With S / 404,4 million investment in prFor the next five years, Senasa promises to eradicate the insect in high-value crop plantations such as blueberries and table grapes, among others, in at least nine regions of the country.

A little giant

Although up to now it only accounts for 3% of shipments, Asia appears on the horizon as the most attractive destination for mango prices. This is demonstrated by Fresh Fruit, which specifies that South Korea, Japan and China paid US $ 3,41, US $ 2,65 and US $ 2,36, respectively, per kilo until the third week of February, when the United States paid US $ 1,04, 0,93 and the Netherlands, US $ XNUMX.

Exporters have warned of this potential, particularly in Korea. According to APEM, of the 48 packaging plants in the industry nationwide, six export to this destination.

“The investment in plants is a consequence of the demand for mango in Korea. It has not been the other way around, ”Rivera explains, stressing that shipments to Asia are still via the area.

Why don't they go by sea? The transfer time (35 days) discourages them, as the fruit does not resist the duration of the journey and loses quality. In addition, says Joaquín Balarezo, general manager of the Sunshine Export, in the case of China, the opportunity would be to meet the demand generated by the Chinese New Year, but this time (mid-January) is "very early" for Peru.

"The Peruvian mango does not go to China basically because it is a market that requires 'ready-to-eat' fruit and there is a lot of risk (regarding quality). Furthermore, they are used to other varieties ”, he says. In this regard, Fresh Fruit notes that it is the Haden, Cavallini and Palmer varieties. The first one does occur in our country.

There's nothing to do? "It would be a matter of competing," Rivera responds. It would not be easy, but impossible do not exist.