Peruvian asparagus exports are showing a significant recovery due to better weather conditions boosting plant productivity and the implementation of corrective agronomic management, such as recovery fertilization and harvest rescheduling, according to Agraria.
The recovery of Peruvian asparagus has led to exports of 39,436 tons, a 42 percent increase over the previous year in May . This large Peruvian production has allowed it to cover destinations primarily in the United States and Europe.
While the year is looking favorable, 2025 could be even better for asparagus due to the Spanish season, which has been shortened by persistent rains, practically ending in May. This opened a window for Peru to obtain stronger prices that started in June.
Projections indicate that the Peruvian campaign could exceed previous year’s volumes by more than 30 percent.
The top destination for Peruvian asparagus is the U.S. and its high demand for this vegetable. In that country, annual consumption exceeds 300,000 tons, and local production barely covers between 10-15 percent of demand.
The United States’ main supplier is Mexico, which has managed to position itself in the conventional section and is developing the premium variety segment. In fact, the U.S. market shows a growing trend toward preference for the latter, which represents a challenge for Peru, whose supply remains concentrated in conventional varieties.
In Europe, the competition is different: major producing countries such as Spain, Italy, and Greece supply their domestic markets. However, consumer preference for asparagus year-round allows Peru to take advantage of being able to supply the market during the months when those countries are off production.
Even so, the margin for growth is more limited in this market, as the gap between production and demand is not as wide as in the United States, with only 15-20 percent of what they have to import from outside Europe. Peru’s strategy on this continent is to take advantage of periods of shortage in the European calendar.