Economy and Finance Minister Jose Arista underscored that the agro-export sector's growth is due to greater shipments of blueberries, grapes, mangoes, and other products.
"This is very good because we have been having a surplus of approximately US$2 billion in our trade balance. We will close the year (2024) with a surplus of over US$22 billion; this figure is impressive," Arista noted.
"Now, what does that allow us to do? It allows us to have a stable U.S. dollar (exchange rate); it enables us to implement our international reserves, which this year are reaching US$82 billion. To be precise, the figure as of today, January 13, 2025, is US$82.192 billion," he explained.
The MEF's head stressed that the trade surplus allows Peru to maintain a high level of international reserves while also having a stable exchange rate.
"Sometimes it goes down below, sometimes it is at S/3.8, S/3.75, S/3.72, and what does that allow us? It gives us predictability, and that allows us to have food on the market at a stable, predictable price," Arista detailed.
"This allows us to import corn, soybeans, and inputs that go directly into food production, such as pork, meat, chicken, etc. This allows us, as I mentioned, to achieve a lower cost of living. This is what we are working on, this is what we have to date, and the truth is that I am very happy with these figures," he said.
Remarks were made during a press conference following the Council of Ministers session on Wednesday afternoon.
(END) MDV/MVB
Publicado: 16/1/2025