AMSTERDAM: In 2016, the Netherlands imported approximately 5.5 million kilograms of quinoa seeds, a record amount and more than three times the volume of 2012. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports this based on new analyses of trade figures. Quinoa exports have increased as well, from 1.4 million kg in 2012 to 3.5 million kg in 2016; in the first half of 2017, both imports and exports of quinoa amounted to 2.1 million kg. The bulk originates from South America, mainly from Peru. There has been a growing worldwide interest in quinoa over the past few years.
Over 63 percent of quinoa imports are not destined for the Dutch market but re-exported. The remainder stays in the Netherlands and is used for consumption. In 2016, over 2 million kg of imported quinoa were available for domestic consumption, versus only 267 thousand kg four years previously.
