underscored that Peruvian good exports value once again, and for the third consecutive year, achieved a historic record by having exceeded US$64 billion in 2023.
Peruvian shipments to the world arrived at 180 markets, with China being the main destination for Peruvian exports, accounting for 36% of the total. It was followed by the United States (14%), the European Union (11%), Canada (5%), and India (4%).
The Asian continent receives 51% of total exports, followed by the Americas (33%) and Europe (15%).
Besides, a record number of exporters was registered: 9,331, which is 2.2% more than in 2022. Within that total, 29% shipped farming products (2,730) and 14% sold minerals abroad.
It should be noted that in 2023 a total of 6,401 micro, small, and medium-sized companies (MSMEs) shipped products abroad (1.6% year-on-year growth) worth US$2.746 billion (28.9% year-on-year increase). Similarly, MSMEs accounted for 69% of the total number of exporters.
"2023 has been a truly challenging, resilient year with plenty of learning. The result is thanks to the efforts by enterprises and the commitment of the Government to maintain a policy of trade integration with the world that has transcended administrations," Mathews indicated.
"The foreign trade sector shows us its strength with these results," he added.
Added to this is continuing to strengthen exporting MSMEs under the Ruta Productiva Exportadora (Productive Exporting Route) program, which this year has been extended to 14 regions.
Likewise, through the Internationalization Support Program (PAI), involving a non-refundable co-financing, (export) projects by exporting MSMEs and/or those with export potential are executed.
Exports growth
Exports growth in 2023 were mainly driven by higher shipments of fruits (14.9%) and metallic/non-metallic minerals (11.4%).
In these sectors, growth in the exported value of grapes (29.7%), lead (37.4%), and molybdenum (27.8%) stood out.
The shipments of copper —Peru's main export product— amounted to US$23.005 billion —a record figure equivalent to 25 times the exports value recorded at the beginning of this century.
Thus, Peru has consolidated its status as the world's second-largest copper exporter.