Peru consolidates Latin America’s largest increase in non-traditional exports

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Peru reinforced its leadership in Latin America as the country with the highest percentage growth in non-traditional exports, those that are not minerals or hydrocarbons, by reaching a record of almost 1.6 billion dollars in September, the Central Bank informed in a statement on Tuesday (16).

The annual average growth of these exports in the last five years reached 8.3% in Peru, followed by Mexico (5.3%), Colombia (3.6%), Chile (2.9%), and Brazil (1.6%).

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Over the last twelve months, Peru’s non-traditional foreign sales showed a year-on-year expansion rate of 26.8%, also above the growth rate of Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Chile.

In September alone, Peru’s non-traditional exports reached a value of close to US$1.6 billion, a record high, the Central Bank highlighted.

Compared to September 2019, the year before the Covid-19 pandemic, the growth of non-traditional exports was 37.5% due to the higher volume of shipments, which was 35% higher.

Compared to September 2020, where exports fell due to the global health emergency, the growth is 23.7% in value, while in volume, it increased 14.4%.

This record registered last September was mainly based on non-tropical fruits such as blueberries, which grew by 120.8% compared to September 2019 and 53.5% over the same month of 2020.

Shipments of avocados grew by 86.4% compared to September 2019 and 162.8% over the same month of 2020, while fresh asparagus increased 76.4% compared to 2019 and 26.7% to 2020.

From January to September 2021, these exports reached 11.582 billion dollars, up 16% compared to the same period in 2019 and 33.9% in 2020.

The Peruvian government is confident of closing 2021 as the year with the highest export revenue in its history by reaching a record figure close to 55 billion dollars between traditional and non-traditional.