Peru’s exports increased by 22% in 2017, ranking third among the fastest growing countries in the world and first in the Americas ahead of Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador and Mexico, and almost doubling that of Uruguay and Chile, the Commission for the Promotion of Peru for Export and Tourism – PROMPERÚ – reported.
"Last year, Peru's leadership was reflected in its outstanding position in the world, ranking third among more than 200 countries in terms of exports, thanks to a trade policy that promotes job creation, competitiveness and development," said the Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Eduardo Ferreyros Küppers.
Peru’s shipments amounted to US$ 44.212 billion in 2017, surpassing the performance of the last five years in terms of value, and being the highest rate of the last six years. This growth is explained by the increase in traditional (US$ 32.500 billion / +27.5%) and non-traditional areas (US$ 11.712 billion / +8.3%).
Non-traditional areas
The good performance of non-traditional shipments is explained by the figures recorded by the Agro-industrial (US$ 5.085 billion / 9% increase), Chemical (US$ 1.384 billion / 3%) and Textile and Clothing (US$ 1.271 billion / 6.3%) subsectors. Special mention should also be made of shipments of Fishery (US$ 1.088 billion / 18%) and Steel and Metallurgy (US$ 1.149 billion / 16%) products.
Products related to the Super Foods Peru brand consolidated shipments of US$ 3.461 billion during 2017, showing an increase of 8.7% over the previous year.
A total of 7,415 companies (187 more) exported their products to 178 markets (3 more).
It is important to mention that Peru is not only a worldwide leader in traditional products such as zinc, lead, molybdenum, fish meal and fish oil, but also in non-traditional ones, being the number one supplier of fresh asparagus, dried beans, quinoa and maca in the world. It is also one of the main exporters of Brazil nuts and canned asparagus (2nd), blueberries and fresh avocados (3rd), canned mangoes and palm hearts (4rd), and olives and scallops (5th).
Acknowledgments
In the 'Exports Peru 2017' results presentation, the companies that stood out last year in the New Exporter (1) categories were also recognized: Promotora y Servicios Lambayeque, (2) Exporting SME Headed by a Woman: AMFA Vitrum, (3) Super Foods Peru: Peruvian Nature S & S (4) Business Establishment: Kero Design, (5) Innovation: AGP Peru, (6) Market Diversification: Camposol, (7) Traditional Exporter of the Year: Antamina Mining Company, (8) Non-Traditional Exporter of the Year: Virú.