15:37 | Lima, Feb. 02 (ANDINA).
Exports of Peru's grape-based liquor pisco were valued at $4.5 billion between January and November 2012, an increase of 21.8 percent compared to the same period a year earlier, the Peruvian Exporters' Association (Adex) said Saturday.
According to Jose Miguel Poblete, head of ADEX's Pisco Committee, despite the economic crisis the United States remained the largest export market for Peruvian pisco in this period, accounting for 57 percent, or $2.6 million, of total exports.
It was followed by Chile with $796,000 in purchases, Colombia ($168,000), UK ($154,000), Germany ($138,000), Spain ($131,000) and Japan ($69,000).
"One of our main challenges is to promote our pisco abroad, for which we must redouble our efforts to spread the culture of drinking pisco to other countries, especially in places where it is not known," said Poblete.
Pisco is the main ingredient in the national cocktail Pisco Sour, which actually has its very own “day” the first Saturday in February.
(END) JJN/GCO/EEP
Published: 2/2/2013