The president of the Association of Exporters (ADEX), Juan Varilias Velasquez, estimated this year's capsicum exports would amount to US $246 million, i.e. more than 3% more than in the previous year.
He also said that in 2017 capsicum shipments had decreased by 2%, something that was attenuated by the increase in shipments of Peruvian peppers. The figure reached US $238 million. "The presence and image of our cuisine in the world helped," he said.
Currently, Peru is the third biggest exporter of capsicum in the world behind China and India. The product is mainly demanded by the United States, Spain, Mexico, Germany, and the United Kingdom, but other markets, such as Argentina, Puerto Rico, and Canada also demand this product.
Varilias said that Peruvian pepper exports alone had amounted to more than US $2 million between January and last April, accounting for 3% of all capsicum exports. The main ones were the yellow pepper, rocoto, and panca pepper.
Production
In 2017, capsicum production was led by bell pepper, which accounted for 28% of total production, chili peppers, with 23%, rocoto peppers, with 22%; paprika, with 13%; and piquillo peppers, with 13%. In 2017, Chili production increased by 7%, while bell pepper production fell by 4%.
Lambayeque led the production of capsicum with 61,351 tons, followed by Pasco, with 35,755 tons; Lima with 29,046 tons; Tacna, with 15,385 tons; La Libertad, with 11,781 tons; and Arequipa, with 7,926 tons, among other departments.
Peru is the third biggest producer of capsicums after China and India, who lead the world production. Capsicum is the country's sixth most exported product and production amounts to more than 164 metric tons.
Source: gestion.pe