Peru’s mandarin/tangerine production and exports are expected to increase slightly in the marketing year from March 2024 to February 2025, a new USDA report says.
Production is forecast to reach 560,000 metric tons, up 2% from a year ago, while exports are forecast to rise by 3% to 210,000 metric tons.
Higher productivity driven by recent cooler weather and potentially favorable dryer weather conditions is expected to help production and exports, according to the report.
The U.S. will likely remain Peru’s top export partner for mandarins and tangerines, accounting for 50% of exports, the report said.
Overall, Peru expects a positive balance in its production among varieties. Early varieties may be lower while the later varieties have better yields, according to the report.
Production in Peru’s Amazon basin and highland regions is destined for the domestic market, while production in the valleys of Lima and Ica is predominantly export-oriented, the report said.
Production in Lima and Ica benefits both from the desert conditions (reduced pest pressure, large diurnal temperature variation) as well as close access to the major Ports of Callao (Lima) and Pisco (Ica).
The market for exports is dominated by easy peelers and seedless varieties including murcott, tango, primosole, clementine and orri, the report said.
The harvest season in Peru goes from March to October peaking from June to August, though the report said Peru produces mandarins/tangerines all year long.
Peruvian statistics show the tangerine production area is 11,119 acres, while mandarins and other hybrids account for 45,714 acres. Tangelos represent 15% of the total mandarin/tangerine area in Peru, according to the report. Clementina, w. murcott and satsuma are the most popular varieties in Peru.
The report said Peruvian mandarin/tangerine exports will increase by 3% to 210,000 metric tons.
Between January to December 2023, Peru exported fresh mandarins/tangerines primarily to the U.S. (46%), the Netherlands (14%) and United Kingdom (10%).
Mandarin/tangerine exports to the U.S. in March 2024 to February 2025 are expected to reach 100,000 metric tons from March 2024 to February 2025, according to the report.
Peru´s mandarin/tangerine production for export is predominantly done on industrial-scale farms of 120 acres or more. Those farms use drip irrigation systems that provide the precise amount of water and nutrients to maximize production, the release said.
Peruvian mandarin/tangerine exports have benefited from numerous free trade agreements, including with the U.S., the European Union and China. The Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, which entered into force on Feb. 1, 2009, provides Peruvian mandarins/tangerines tariff-free access to the U.S.
The Peruvian government considers port development a strategic priority, the report said. A new port about 40 miles north of Lima, labeled the Megaport of Chancay, is being touted by Peruvian officials as revolutionary for logistics between South America and Asia. The port, constructed and operated by Chinese state-owned firm Cosco Shipping, is in the final stage of construction and is expected to be inaugurated by the end of 2024, the report said.
Peru’s Agricultural Sanitary Agency (SENASA) plays a leading role in the monitoring and control of fresh fruits for exports, the report said. According to official data, SENASA has registered 424 mandarin/tangerine production sites. In addition, 31 packing and treatment facilities have been registered.
