Peru’s exports jump to record in 2025 after mega-port’s launch

2026-02-03 - 23:26

The Chancay mega-port on Peru’s central coast was built by the Chinese firm Cosco Shipping. (EPA Images pic) LIMA: Peru’s exports hit a new record in 2025, jumping 21% from the prior year, fuelled by the launch of a massive port on the country’s central coast. The South American country’s exports totalled US$90.08 billion last year, thanks to higher sales of mining and agricultural products, the government said on Tuesday. China, whose purchases increased by 30% last year, also remains Peru’s main trading partner, receiving 32% of the country’s total exports, according to Peru’s trade ministry. The boost in sales to China follows the late 2024 operational launch of the Chancay mega-port on Peru’s central coast. The port, built by the Chinese firm Cosco Shipping, established a new direct trade route between Asia and South America. The EU is the second-largest market for Peruvian products, with its purchases growing by 24% year-on-year in 2025. The third largest is the US, which saw a 6.4% year-on-year increase in imports from Peru, according to the ministry. In 2025, Peru’s mining exports grew by 25% year-on-year, while the agricultural sector advanced by 18.5%, the ministry highlighted. Peru is the world’s third-largest copper producer.