In recent weeks, the lemon and onionessential foods for the family table, have established themselves as the products that have increased their prices the most, even doubling their value per kilogram in the retail markets of metropolitan Lima.
In the period between June 14 and August 14 of this year, data provided by the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (Midagri) reveal an increase of more than 200% in the wholesale price of both the lemon in the bag and the lemon in the box in the Great Wholesale Market of Lima.
Specifically, the price of lemons on the stock exchange rose from S/1.86 to S/5.83 per kg during this period; while the kg of lemon in a drawer increased from S/1.90 to S/5.87. This represents an increase of almost S/4 per kg in each of the cases (see infographic).
This rise in prices, as was foreseeable, has been reflected in the capital’s retail markets. As La República was able to verify yesterday, this fruit in the Limoncillo del Rímac market was sold at S/9 per kg; meanwhile, in the La Aurora market it cost S/8 per kg and in the El Bosque de San Juan de Lurigancho market it cost S/7 per kg.
The 25 lemons are sold at 4 soles, when before it cost 2 soles. Photo: Composition LR
The onion follows the same trend
As mentioned at the beginning of this note, onion is another product that has experienced a significant variation in its prices in recent weeks.
According to data from midagrithe wholesale price of this product has risen by more than 87% in the last two months, going from an approximate value of S/3.33 to S/6.25 on average per kilogram.
This rise has led the price of onions to stand about S/10 per kilogram in the city markets. In fact, yesterday sales were observed for S/9 per kilogram in the La Aurora del Cercado de Lima market, S/10 in the Santa Rosa del Callao market and S/8 in the Limoncillo del Rímac market.
Factors and prospects in the short term
According to Jorge Reyes Luján, vice president of the Arequipa Agricultural Society (SADA), the increase in the price of onion is due to the reduction in the production of this crop, a consequence of the climatic phenomena associated with El Niño that occurred in the previous months.
Thus, he mentions that adverse weather conditions have prevented adequate planting and have negatively affected existing crops in the Arequipa region and in the northern part of the country.
This, as he explains, has created a vacuum in the onion production for almost three months, which has contributed to a shortage in the supply of the product in the market.
In this sense, it also warns that due to the shortfall in production the increase in prices is expected to become more pronounced in the coming weeks.
Regarding the regularization of onion production, the vice president of SADA pointed out that it is estimated that this process will take between three and four months.
Finally, he mentioned that similar factors have affected lemon cultivation in the north of the country, which has influenced the increase in the price of citrus.
GMML supply decreased by 4.1%
Last Monday, 5,284 tons of food entered the Great Wholesale Market of Lima (GMML), which meant a reduction of -4.1% compared to the usual volume of this day, according to Midagri.
The products that increased their prices the most were Cusco-type corn and papa huayro which rose S/3.63 and S/2.08 per kg wholesale.
On the other hand, 1,820 tons of eviscerated chicken were sold yesterday in the capital.
The price of the bird was placed S / 10.08 per kg on average in retail markets.
Evolution of the wholesale price of lemon and onion in the last two months
Infographic – The Republic
Source: Larepublica
Alia is a professional author and journalist, working at 247 news agency. She writes on various topics from economy news to general interest pieces, providing readers with relevant and informative content. With years of experience, she brings a unique perspective and in-depth analysis to her work.
