Peruvian Exports Grew 17.7% in August 2026 on Mining and Fishing Strength

The total volume of Peruvian exports grew 17.7% in August 2026 compared to the same month of 2025, according to the National Institute of Statistics and Informatics (INEI). The agency's head, Gaspar Morán Flores, said the result was mainly driven by traditional products, which rose 20.9% in volume, with the mining sector having the greatest impact.

Among traditional products, mining shipments grew 19.6% year-on-year. Copper remained the metal with the highest external demand, with a real value of $2,056.8 million, up 25% from August 2025, with China and Japan as the main destinations, accounting for 75.4% and 8.4% of the share, respectively. Shipments of gold (12.9%), lead (33.5%), iron (33.2%), tin (4.3%) and refined silver (46.4%) also rose, while zinc fell 14%. The agricultural sector rose 7.8% and exports of oil and natural gas surged 104%, driven by oil derivatives (48.6%) and natural gas (395.2%).

Non-traditional products increased 10.3% in August, led by the fishing sector, which grew 66.8% and posted twelve consecutive months of expansion thanks to frozen mussels and scallops, cuttlefish and squid, and canned fish. The metalworking sector (10.3%), agriculture and livestock (9.5%) —with blueberries, avocados and citrus fruits among the standout products—, the iron and steel sector (8.1%) and the chemical sector (6.6%) also advanced. In contrast, the non-metallic mining sector (-7.9%) and textiles (-0.6%) declined.

Imports posted a year-on-year increase of 5.9% in August 2026, driven by higher demand for consumer goods (13%), raw materials and intermediate goods (6.2%) and capital goods and construction materials (0.9%). Within consumer goods, durable items stood out, such as assembled automobiles (40.3%) and other vehicles (68.9%), while among raw materials the arrival of B2 diesel (315.1%) was notable.

In the cumulative period from January to August 2026, the total FOB export volume grew 6.5% compared to the same period of 2025, while imports rose 16.6%, driven by capital goods and construction materials (21.9%), consumer goods (23.5%) and raw materials and intermediate goods (9.9%). According to Puertos y Comercio, these results reflect the diversification of the Peruvian economy and underscore the relevance of ports and port logistics for managing foreign trade and employment linked to maritime transport.