What Peru Imports and Exports: A Trade Profile

Peru's trade profile reflects its status as a resource-rich, upper-middle-income economy with a growing manufacturing and agricultural export base. Here's a breakdown of the key flows.

Major Exports (2023–2024 Estimates)

Minerals & Metals (~60% of export value)

• Copper — Peru is the world's #2 producer; copper alone accounts for ~30% of total exports
• Gold — #6 globally; major artisanal and industrial output
• Zinc, Silver, Lead, Iron Ore, Molybdenum

Agricultural Products (~15–18%)

• Fresh fruit: Blueberries, grapes, avocados, mangoes, citrus (top global exporter of blueberries and grapes)
• Coffee & Cocoa — Specialty/organic segments growing
• Asparagus — World's leading exporter
• Quinoa — Native Andean superfood

Fish & Seafood (~8–10%)

• Fishmeal & Fish Oil — Peru is the world's #1 producer (anchoveta-based)
• Frozen fish fillets, canned tuna, giant squid

Other Exports

• Textiles & Apparel — Cotton knits, alpaca/vicuña luxury fibers
• Chemicals — Fertilizers, basic inorganic chemicals
• Wood Products — Furniture, veneers, sawn timber
• Non-traditional manufactures — Jewelry, handicrafts, processed foods

Major Imports

Capital & Intermediate Goods

• Machinery & Equipment — Mining, construction, industrial
• Transport Equipment — Trucks, buses, automotive parts
• Electronics & Telecom — Smartphones, computers, components

Fuels & Chemicals

• Refined Petroleum Products — Diesel, gasoline (Peru imports most refined fuel despite crude production)
• Plastics, Resins, Fertilizers, Pharmaceuticals

Consumer & Food Products

• Wheat, Corn, Soybean Meal — For feed and food processing
• Dairy, Prepared Foods, Beverages
• Textiles & Apparel — Complementing domestic production
• Vehicles, Appliances, Cosmetics

Key Trading Partners

• Exports to: China (30%+), USA, Canada, Switzerland, India, South Korea, Japan, EU
• Imports from: China, USA, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, EU

Trends to Watch

• Diversification beyond mining: agro-exports now exceed $10B/year
• Port of Chancay (Chinese-backed) opening 2024—will cut Asia shipping time
• Trade agreements: CPTPP accession pending, FTA with EU, US, Canada, China, others in force

Peru's trade story is increasingly one of minerals funding the infrastructure that enables agricultural and manufacturing diversification.