Peru predicts 15% export growth this year
Peru's grape, banana, asparagus and citrus shipments are expected to be star performers in reaching a 15% growth in agricultural exports by the end of 2012, website Agraria.pe reported. 
Promperú agribusiness co-ordinator William Arteaga Donayre, said in the first four months of this year fresh produce exports had grown considerably thanks to free trade agreements with China, Japan and the U.S.
Ministry of Agriculture (Minag) figures show agricultural exports increased 16.6% during the first quarter of this year, reaching sales of over US$900 million.
Minag's Office of Economic and Statistical Studies (EEO) said the increase was due to better export prices of goods such as asparagus which grew by 191%.
Mango and grape prices also did well, growing by 44% and 3% respectively.
Avocados have recorded falling prices but Arteaga said they were still an extremely valuable export.
"The important thing is that the market is assured and diversified, now more than ever with the recent admission of avocados to the U.S.," he was quoted as saying.
EEO figures for non-traditional agricultural exports in the first quarter showed a 10% year-on-year rise reaching US$757 million accounting for 83% of all agricultural shipments.
Grapes were among the largest foreign sales categories showing a 29% year-on-year rise, while Valery Cavendish bananas increased by 17% and fresh and frozen asparagus rose by 13% and 65% respectively.
Fresh avocado exports grew by 135%, other fresh fruit by 322%, vegetable seeds by 784% and malt beer by 256%.
The U.S. captured 23% of the total market followed by Holland with 13%, Colombia at 7%, Germany with 6%, Spain at 6% and Ecuador with 5%; these countries represented 60% of total exports.
Minag has adopted a strategic plan for the agricultural sector over the next four years aimed at co-ordinating tasks between national, regional and local governments.
The plan's guidelines embrace government policy on social inclusion, poverty reduction and development of rural areas of the country.
Related stories: Peruvian president's Asian trip to open fruit export doors
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