Peru is the second largest supplier, after Mexico, of fresh onions and shallots to the United States. Imports from Peru increased from 95,000 metric tons (MT) in 2013 to 123,000 MT in 2017. In contrast, the value of imports per metric ton dropped in the same period from approximately $430 to $410. In 2017, imports of fresh onions from Peru were valued at $50 million.
Imports of fresh onions from Peru start in significant quantities in August and end in February, with peak shipments in October, November and December. Based on the last five years of data, imports of onions from Peru averaged 82,000 MT in August, 164,000 MT in September and over 200,000 MT per month in October, November and December. Imports started to decline in January (161,000 MT) and February (54,000 MT).
Peru also exports onion sets to the U.S. In the past five years, average annual shipments amounted to 410 MT, with significantly higher quantities in 2014 (712 MT) and 2017 (652 MT). Between 2013 and 2017, U.S. imports of onion sets from Peru were valued at approximately $400 per metric ton. Peak months for imports of onion sets were December through March.
The U.S. is the biggest export market for fresh onions from Peru and is increasing in its importance. In 2013, the U.S. market accounted for approximately 51 percent of Peruvian exports by volume and 68 percent by value. In 2017, the U.S. market represented approximately 67 percent of Peruvian exports by volume and 77 percent by value. In contrast, total exports of fresh onions from Peru to all international markets were flat in the past five years. Between 2013 and 2017, Peru exported on average 190,000 MT of onions per year, valued at $66 million or $348 per metric ton. Other important export markets for the Peruvian onion industry are Colombia, Spain and Chile. In 2017, these three countries accounted for 31 percent of Peruvian exports by volume. Peru exported 30,000 MT to Colombia, 18,000 MT to Spain and 10,000 MT to Chile.
Author’s note: This information is based on the author’s analysis of the international trade data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau Foreign Trade Division and the United Nations International Trade Statistics Database.
