Commercial Dynamism of Peru's Citrus Fruit Exports: An Analysis of Their Destination Markets

Abstract

The study aimed to analyze the trade dynamics of Peru's citrus fruit exports, evaluating market concentration through the Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI). The research focused on key products such as mandarins (including tangerines and satsumas), clementines, Tahiti limes, lemons (Citrus aurantifolia and Citrus limon), oranges, tangelos (hybrids of mandarin and grapefruit), grapefruits, pomelos, and wilkings, corresponding to their tariff subheadings exported between 2019 and 2023. The methodology employed was quantitative and descriptive, using official data from customs declarations. The results revealed contrasting behaviors: Tahiti limes stood out with an accumulated growth of 233% while lemons and tangelos experienced declines exceeding 50%. HHI values showed highly concentrated markets for most products, such as clementines (HHI > 7000 points), where the US market was predominant, or oranges, which exhibited significant fluctuations in export values. For wilkings and other citrus fruits, exports reached 171.53 million dollars in 2023, albeit with high HHI values (2693–4823 points), reflecting strong dependence on key markets such as the United States and Mexico. Overall, the findings confirmed that market concentration remains a structural challenge for Peru’s citrus export sector.