Peruvian market consultancy Maximixe has forecast a 24% rise in the country's grape export values to US$370.70 million in 2012, website Alertaeconomica.com reported.

The story reported the United States would continue to be Peru's most important table grape export market due to high consumer demand for the fruit, with annual consumption of 7.9kg (17.4lbs) per person.

Maximixe says Peru's grape exports grew at an average annual rate of 43.7% between 2005 and 2011, hitting US$299 million last season.

During the period exports to the Netherlands grew 52.4% annually, while shipments to Russia and China grew by 161.9% and 226.4% respectively.

In 2011 there were 103 Peruvian grape exporters and 51 market destinations. El Pedregal accounted for 16.1% of shipments, followed by Sociedad Agrícola Drokasa (8.1%), Complejo Agroindustrial Beta (7.8%), Eco Acuícola(6.4%) and Agrícola Don Ricardo (5.8%).

Photo: 10puntas.com

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