Peru’s exports of goods reached US$ 54.049 billion in the first half of 2026, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 34%. This increase is primarily attributed to a remarkable rise in mineral sales, particularly precious metals such as copper and gold.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), Peru’s exports have recorded unprecedented figures in the early months of 2026, ensuring significant growth that has positioned the country as a strong competitor in the realm of foreign trade. This advance was mainly driven by the mining sector, which contributed US$ 39.875 billion, equivalent to a 49% increase compared to the same period last year.
The sectoral breakdown shows that copper led mining exports, totaling US$ 18.563 billion with a growth of 42.8%. Gold reported US$ 13.972 billion, with an impressive growth of 59.2%. Other minerals, such as lead and silver concentrates, also performed well, reaching US$ 2.981 billion with a staggering increase of 113.3%. In contrast, agricultural exports amounted to US$ 5.667 billion, growing 3.7% thanks to products like blueberries and avocados, which exhibited significant increases in their shipments.
Peru’s dependence on a few buyers becomes evident when observing that China, the United States, and the European Union are the main destinations for its exports. In the first half of 2026, shipments to India doubled, reaching US$ 5.407 billion with a growth of 208.9%. Canada and Switzerland also reported significant increases in Peruvian imports, suggesting a growing interest in the global market for Peruvian products.
These data not only reflect the robustness of the mining sector, which continues to be the engine of the country’s export growth but also highlight the need to diversify Peru’s export portfolio. Although the country benefits from a favorable environment in international trade, the risks associated with the concentration of primary products and markets remain latent.
