Two main destinations for export of Ecuadorian pitahayas

Peru and Colombia are two strategic destinations for Ecuador in the export of pitahayas, accounting for 29% of its international shipments of this exotic fruit. An Ecuadorian exporter underlined the importance of the yellow variety of pitahaya in these transactions, highlighting a significant change in the trade dynamics with Peru, which has gone from an informal trade to one officially registered with customs since 2023.

 

According to the same exporter, average prices in these markets are notably lower, reaching $0.31 and $0.17 for Peru and Colombia, respectively. This is partly because much of the fruit shipped to Peru is of domestic or second-grade quality, comprising 60% of Ecuador's total yellow pitahaya production. Bustos suggests that improving quality and productivity through technology could be a viable solution to this situation.

 

Excluding Peru and Colombia, pitahaya exports between January 2023 and January 2024 reached $167.2 million and 38,604 tonnes, representing 71% of the total volume and a 37% increase in the average price, at $4.1 per kilogramme. The best prices are obtained in the Chinese and Hong Kong markets, where they range between $6.5 and $7.1 per kilogramme.

 

 

 

 

fuente: agraria.pe