Peru records garlic success

Sendings have risen markedly over the last four years as exports during the first bimester of 2010 soar again in value

Exports of Peruvian garlic rose by 178 per cent in value terms during the first two months of 2010, according to a report by the Peruvian Exporters Association (Adex).

Fresh and refrigerated garlic shipments were worth some US$536,117 in total, Adex said, up from just US$192,519 during the year-earlier period.

The bulk of the sendings was absorbed by the Colombian market, which imported 60 per cent of the volume, worth US$320,977 – an increase of 97 per cent over the first two months in 2009.

Spain ranked as the second-largest destination, according to Adex, receiving US$112,200 worth of garlic or 21 per cent of the total. Again sendings were up by 284 per cent over 2009.

Peru exported US$695,336-worth of fresh and refrigerated garlic in 2007, dipping the following year to US$630,561.

Last year, sendings registered some US$804,584 in value – a rise of 28 per cent over 2008.