Mandarins and Peru show excellent projections!

Peruvian Products

6 min. of lecture

Mandarins and Peru show excellent projections!

The growing consumption of mandarins in the United States is mainly related to the quality, flavor, easiness to consume and nutritional value of the fruit. Total imports of mandarins to the United States rose to $500 million in 2022 from a level of $185 million in 2010. That adds to the domestic production of citrus from states like Florida, California, Texas and Arizona.

Mandarins and oranges are the 5th most consumed fruit in the US and its future is still bright, with indications that the fresh fruit and vegetables market will grow 4.1% per year till 2030.

The Peruvian leadership

Peru provided the United States more than $170 million of mandarins in 2022. That value was below $20 million until 2012 and raised six times to $120 million in 2020. And it still keeps growing.

Regarding the North American market, this continues to be the most important of all, with a 50% share. According to the Association of Citrus Producers of Peru (Procitrus), "this was due to two factors: the increase in production (plantations that were made four years ago to replace tangelos), generating a greater variety between W. Murcott and Clementines; and the permission from the North American country for the entry of mandarins produced throughout our territory.”

The citrus species that are exported from Peru to the United States are mandarins and tangelos (soft citrus), which represent 94% of the citrus exported to this destination, followed by Tahiti lime (6%). Peru also exports 1,600 tons of grapefruit.

Peruvian citrus fruits have been gaining more and more relevance in consumer preference due to their importance in strengthening the immune system and their high nutritional value. It is also relevant to identify the factors that influence consumer purchase decisions. The most important attributes are related to delicious flavor, pristine freshness, splendid appearance and the price points of different citrus varieties, explicitly in that order. Among the main characteristics that shine in Peruvian citrus, of utmost importance to importers are its good consistency, skin quality and shelf life.

Peruvian citrus producers have reached world quality standards in terms of brix, acidity and proportion of juice. A key aspect for exporters is to focus on strengthening the supply of greater variety, specifically in the clementine and W. Murcott categories due to consumer preference for this type of mandarin.

Special agricultural conditions

The flavorful Peruvian citrus is grown mainly on the Peruvian coast, an extensive desert with unique climatic conditions in different valleys that, like a natural greenhouse, provide the best conditions for citrus. These conditions, accompanied by good cultivation and technological knowledge, have led to the growth of citrus exports to the most demanding markets.

The farmable areas dedicated to mandarins in Peru have risen from 18,000 hectares to 25,000 hectares in the past 2 decades. Key production regions are Lima, Ica, La Libertad and Junin.

Ready to order?

Peruvian mandarins are exported from February to September, since there are a large number of varieties, mainly satsumas, primosoles, clementines, W. Murcotts, nova, fortuna, among others, allowing Peru to supply other countries during an increasingly larger annual window. Minneolas and Tahiti limes are also exported to the United States.

Mandarins offer much better nutritional benefits for their consumers. For example, apples have more fiber, but mandarins win in almost all other concepts, including vitamins C and A. Comparing the 10 minerals present in each fruit, mandarins have higher content of 9 of those, such as potassium, copper, magnesium, phosphorus, and calcium.

These are some varieties and presentations of the mandarins offer that you would find in Peru Marketplace: