Peru and Colombia are two key markets for Ecuador's pitahaya accounting for 29% of the country's exports. According to Alex Bustos, an agronomist and president of Green Control LA in Ecuador, the yellow pitahaya variety is key in these shipments. He also highlighted a change in the commercial dynamics with Peru, as in 2023 customs started to register trade with that country officially.
Bustos says the average prices in these markets ($0.31 in Peru and $ 0.17 in Colombia) are considerably low. This is partly because the quality of the fruit destined for Peru is the same as the one destined for the national market, i.e. second quality fruit which accounts for 60% of Ecuador's yellow pitahaya production. A viable solution, Bustos said, could be using technology to improve quality and productivity.
Excluding Peru and Colombia, between January 2023 and January 2024 Ecuador exported 38,604 tons of pitahaya (i.e. 71% of the total volume exported) for 167.2 million dollars, at an average price of $ 4.1 per kilogram (+37%). The best-paying markets are China and Hong Kong, as they pay between $ 6.5 and 7.1 per kilogram FOB, he added.
Source: agraria.pe