Peruvian exports of Amazonian fruit camu camu have skyrocketed this season with estimated growth of 79% for the year, website Alertaeconomica.com reported.

Consultancy Maximixe found the rise has been mainly driven by shipments of the fruit in dehydrated, extract, flour or powder form, with a total camu camu export value of US$645,685 between January and August.

Around 76% of shipments were either in powder or flour form, while the remainder was shared between extract (13.4%), dehyrated (6.2%) and fresh (3.8%).

Export values to August represent a 105.4% year-on-year rise for the period, with a dramatic jump in shipments to the export markets of the U.S. (210.7%), the U.K. (111.5%) and Canada (36.3%).

The situation was not as positive in Japan however with shipments declining 17.5%, the story reported.

The U.S. imports 56% of Peru's camu camu shipments, followed by Canada with 18.9% and the U.K. at 5.3%. Other destinations for the fruit include Japan, France, Germany and Australia.

Camu camu itself is a purple-red cherry-shaped fruit that grows in the Amazon rainforest of Peru and Brazil, and is well-known for having high levels of vitamin C, antioxidants and antiviral properties.

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