Peru is a key provider to the US of many products like blueberries, asparagus, grapes, seafood, gold, Pima t-shirts, Alpaca sweaters…
Los Angeles, March 25 / The long and strategic trade partnership between Peru and the United States is strong, successfully surviving the Covid-19 pandemic, with sectors like agriculture, seafood, chemicals growing, and products including gold and silver regaining momentum. As a global trend, textile exports experienced some declines, as did hydrocarbons. For 2021, projections are excellent for sustainable growth between the two nations, with the free trade agreement that Peru maintains with the US always an aid.
Food is king
Of the $6.3 bn Peru exported to the US during 2020, $2.8 bn were agricultural products, including a variety of fresh fruits such as blueberries, grapes, asparagus and mango, to name only a few. Peru is one of the first countries in the southern hemisphere to send its winter supply of food to the US. The importance being when many parts of the US were covered in snow, Peru came to the rescue by providing US supermarkets with offerings of fresh fruits and vegetables for their clients.
Specialty coffees and fine cacao products are notable exports. Native “superfoods Peru” products should be highlighted, particularly quinoa and maca. Incredibly flavorful ginger and onions, Amazon or Brazilian nuts, organic bananas and ready-to-eat presentations of artichokes and mouthwatering peppers represent just some of the diversity Peru offers.
Seafood is also an important export category from Peru, with $250 million sent to the US last year, counting mahi-mahi, Peruvian scallops, shrimp, squid, anchovies as a few examples.
Diversified exports
The textile sector reached $552 million in exports to the US. Among the globally recognized brands that manufacture in Peru are Vineyard Vines, Lululemon, Lands’ End, Bombas, Ralph Lauren, Tory Burch, Lunya, the list goes on. Peru specializes in quality knitted Pima cotton garments, satisfying the current Covid “stay at home fashion” while also well versed in the new way forward of getting dressed in comfort and the growing want for performance apparel.
A special mention is required for all the products made with “Alpaca del Perú”, where luxury meets sustainability. Those include sweaters, dresses, coats, capes, ponchos and many different accessories.
Gold and silver exports grew to $1.4 bn and $60 million, respectively, with numerous other metal products contributing to the total. Phosphates accounted for $193 million and chemicals for $140 million.
The sad tourism crisis
Peru used to receive more than 4 million international tourists and this indicator would commonly grow by close to 10% in any good year. Unfortunately, during 2020 the number of visitors fell by more than 80%. The 47 million domestic trips also declined due to Covid-19 restrictions and this has been terrible for the sector, affecting also the Peruvian restaurant industry. There are approximately 700 Peruvian restaurants in the US, and close to 100 in California and these businesses have been hard hit by Covid-19 restrictions worldwide.
With the huge effort made by the US government to develop, and support production and distribution of vaccines, we expect the Covid-19 pandemic to be controlled soon. With the new availability of vaccines, we trust that the whole world will get to a herd immunity level during 2021.
We expect that protocols for travel by vaccinated tourist will be published soon. In the meantime, Peru has stated that US tourists can fly to Peru with a recent molecular test (PCR) and if they take an extra antigen test upon arrival at the Lima airport, the mandatory 14-day quarantine can be waived.
We hope you can fly to Peru as soon as possible so you can enjoy the many different activities in open spaces that Peru has to offer. Also be sure to savor our spectacular gastronomy!
