Global Competitive Sustainability of the Peruvian Asparagus Industry’s Agro-Export Performance in the International Market

Peru holds a prominent position in international fresh asparagus trade, with a strong export profile and a well-established presence in global markets. Nevertheless, sustaining this position requires diversification toward a more resilient and sustainable portfolio of destination markets. This study assessed the global competitive sustainability of Peru’s asparagus agro-export industry during 2010–2024. Official data from the World Bank, Veritrade, CEPII, and the Peruvian Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) were analyzed using a quantitative longitudinal single-case study design with descriptive and explanatory components. The results show that the Herfindahl–Hirschman Index (HHI) for Peruvian asparagus exporters remained low, indicating limited firm-level concentration and a relatively diversified supply structure. Thus, Peruvian asparagus exports did not depend on a single dominant firm but were distributed among multiple exporters. In contrast, the HHI for destination markets revealed high geographic concentration of demand. Regarding competitiveness, Peru maintained a strong net-export position, with trade competitiveness index values close to 1. The Revealed Symmetric Comparative Advantage (RSCA) index showed favorable performance in markets such as the United States, Spain, The Netherlands, and the United Kingdom, although this advantage had not yet reached full structural stability. The gravity model, estimated using EGLS with Panel-Corrected Standard Errors (PCSE), identified destination-country economic size as the most important determinant of Peruvian asparagus exports. Geographic distance constrained exports, whereas trade agreements did not show a consistent statistical effect. Potential expansion opportunities were identified in China, Australia, Norway, Ecuador, Sweden, Austria, Russia, Poland, New Zealand, and Romania. Consequently, the competitive sustainability of Peruvian asparagus depends not only on preserving export leadership but also on reducing destination-market concentration, improving logistical efficiency, expanding production capacity, and directing trade policy toward markets with favorable economic fundamentals.