Peru 06/06/2023

Peru's mango export season be delayed due to weather disruptions

 

The ongoing weather conditions are questioning the mango export campaign in Peru. Normally, minimum temperatures of 17 or 18 degrees Celsius are required for successful flowering. However, the current temperatures are unseasonably high, reaching 20 or 21 degrees Celsius.

Ideally, mature buds would already be present, and flowering would commence in June or July. However, due to excessive water resulting from the floods caused by Cyclone Yaku in the northern region, the plants are unable to produce flowers or project a significant level of production. This setback directly impacts the concentrated production areas in the north of Peru.

Ángel Gamarra, the president of the Peruvian Association of Mango Producers (Promango), anticipates that the flowering period will likely be delayed until August. Consequently, the volumes intended for export in the 2023-2024 season, which normally starts in November, may be postponed until December or even the beginning of the following year. This delay coincides with the potential effects of a possible El Niño phenomenon, further exacerbating the situation in Peru.

In light of a potential El Niño, air transportation would become the only option for mango exports, as sea transportation would be severely affected. This presents a significant challenge, considering that sea shipments account for the majority of mango exports, constituting at least 70% according to APEM data from the most recent campaign (2022-2023).

Looking at the available production for this campaign, Gamarra predicts that only around 70% of the previous year's achievements will be realized. Plantations near the Piura River, in particular, have been heavily impacted, with stagnant water causing some plantations to dry up entirely and others still undergoing a recovery process. Consequently, these plantations will not undergo flowering this year, further affecting the overall production.

source: gestion.pe