Peruvian exports showed an important recovery in the first quarter of 2021, thus surpassing pre-pandemic levels, the
Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur) has reported.
The export levels achieved in the first three months of this year in several sectors of the economy —including agriculture, textiles, and chemicals— exceeded those experienced in 2020 (pandemic) and 2019 (pre-pandemic).
"Despite all the difficulties, due to COVID-19, the foreign trade sector did not stop. Several actions were taken to further promote the digitalization of its services and processes, coupled with the importance of commercial agreements signed by Peru,"
Foreign Trade and Tourism Minister Claudia Cornejo stated.
"This recovery would not be possible without the efforts of exporters and the entire foreign trade chain," she added.
Last year, after the declaration of the state of health emergency due to the spread of COVID-19, Peruvian shipments abroad fell 10% in the first quarter (from US$10.943 billion to US$9.895 billion) and more than 40% in the second quarter, marking the lowest quarterly number in recent years (US$6.678 billion).
Cornejo noted that the textile-clothing industry is one of the most affected sectors by the pandemic and today has overcome such situation.
Exports in this sector fell from US$286 million in the first quarter of 2020 to US$100 million in the second, and then reached US$352 million in the first quarter of 2021.
Other sectors, such as agriculture, continued to grow steadily despite the pandemic, seeing record levels in 2020 and hitting record levels again in 2021.
(END) NDP/MMG/RMB
Published: 5/10/2021