Legumes exports grow exponentially

Peruvian legumes foreign sales reached US$ 13 million dollars for the first five months in 2015, currently representing over US$ 21 million.

Dried beans are Peru’s main legume, and the exports are growing exponentially, going from US$ 664,000 in 2015 to US$ 5.9 million in 2016. Castilla beans are on second place selling US$ 3.4 million, and growing 32% in sales. Other Peruvian legumes with a good acceptance abroad are gandul beans, broad beans, peas, and zarandaja.

From January to May, Colombia was the main destination for Peruvian legumes, increasing its purchases by 718 %, adding US$ 9.2 million in profits. The other top five countries are: United States, Ecuador, Puerto Rico, and Canada.

Peruvian authority for agriculture and irrigation, Juan Manuel Benites, stated Peruvian legumes have great potential and the gastronomy market can be a strategic ally: ‘we must promote our variety of legumes, do research, improve the seeds, and increase hectare production to supply the market, then we will have a virtuous legume circle’.

There is no doubt Peru legume exports are an important financial income and agricultural development source, as we have seen it with quinoa in 2013. An excellent opportunity for everybody involved in this industry.