Overview

Peruvian agricultural exports worldwide have grown remarkably in the last few decades, from just $645 million in 2000 to an estimated $15 billion in 2025. Peru has also quadrupled its high-value export farmland to nearly 250,000 hectares, creating at least 1 million jobs. This success stems from ideal coastal weather, advanced technology, as well as sound policies like the former Special Labor Regime for Agriculture, which unlike the general labor regime, allowed temporary employment to meet seasonal needs. The law encouraged formal employment in the agricultural sector, granting benefits to workers, and created numerous opportunities for women, who now account for about 30 percent of the workforce. However, in late 2020, after a month of tension and civil unrest by agricultural labor groups, Peru’s Congress repealed and replaced the Special Labor Regime for the agricultural sector. The then-newly adopted Agrarian Law mandated a 30 percent wage increase, required agricultural enterprises to pay tax rates equal to other sectors of the economy, and introduced additional labor and tax-related changes. This temporarily slowed investment in the sector. However, on August 14, 2025, Congress passed agricultural reform legislation that will reduce the tax burden of medium and large agribusinesses, down to 1.5 and 15 percent, respectively. The legislation is expected to significantly boost agricultural sector investment.     

Production

Note: Total Market Size = (Total Local Production + Imports) – Exports  

Peru wheat production is estimated at 220,000 metric tons (M.T.) in 2025; mainly soft wheat, which is consumed directly in soups and purees. Wheat processed into flour for bread and pasta is imported (duty free but with an 18 percent value added tax). The U.S. accounted for 9 percent in 2024, and Canada, the largest supplier, 74 percent.  

Table 1: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Hard Wheat (1000 MT)  

Peru imports corn mainly from Argentina; 98 percent in 2024. Yellow corn in Peru is used primarily for poultry, and at 54 kilograms annually per capita, poultry consumption is one of the highest in the region. Corn is duty-free from all origins. Peru does generally implement a price band system but not to U.S. corn under the rules of the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA). Another U.S. export prospect is distiller’s dried grains with solubles (DDGS).  

Table 2: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Yellow Corn (1000 MT)  

Peru imports soybean meal primarily for poultry feed. Bolivia was the leading soybean meal exporter to Peru in 2022. Soybean meal from all origins enters Peru duty-free.  

Table 3: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Soybean Meal (1000 MT)  

Peru’s cotton production reached 17,000 metric tons in 2024, up 6 percent from 2023. Peru’s cotton imports rose to 72,000 metric tons in 2024, up 6 percent from 2023. Peru’s cotton exports totaled $1.4 billion in 2023. The U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) provides duty-free access for Peruvian textiles.

Table 4: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Cotton (1000 MT)  

Peru produced 210 million liters of ethanol fuel in 2024, reflecting a slight decrease from previous years. The country maintains a 7.8 percent blend mandate for gasoline. This mandate, combined with favorable European Union market prices, has sustained ethanol production in Peru in recent years. Fuel ethanol imports in 2024 reached 190 million liters, predominantly from the United States.

Table 5: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Ethanol (MM Liters)  

In 2024, Peru imported nearly 53,000 MT of milk powder from the world, slightly lower (2 percent) than the previous year. The United States is the largest supplier to Peru in terms of volume accounting for 54 percent of total import market share and showed a 12 percent growth with respect to 2023. Peruvian dairy processors heavily rely on imported powdered milk for recombination to produce mainly evaporated milk. Peru’s milk production consistently falls short of consumption, indicating a continued need for imported powdered milk.

Table 6: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Powdered Milk (MT) 

Half of Peru’s raw milk production is used by cheese manufacturers, mainly artisanal producers.  The food processing and food service industries are the leading destinations for imported cheese products, which account for almost 7 percent of the market. The consolidation of franchises and new players in the market are driving growth and the United States, the largest cheese exporter to Peru, increased its exports by 22 percent in 2024 from 2023.

Table 7: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Cheese (MT) 

Peru’s beef and offal market increased slightly in 2024. Peru’s beef production and consumption are some of the lowest in South America, with an annual per person consumption rate of 6 kilograms. However, economic growth over the last 15 years has driven consumer preferences toward high-quality products. The U.S. is the second largest beef and offal supplier, accounting for 26 percent of imports by volume. Livers are the largest beef product exported to Peru.

Table 8: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Beef and Offal (MT) 

Peru’s poultry industry is its largest livestock sector, producing approximately 65 million broilers monthly and maintaining a 30-million-layer flock, supporting one of Latin America’s highest per capita chicken consumption rates (around 56.3 kg/year). The United States is the second-largest poultry meat supplier, accounting for about 32 percent of Peru’s imports, primarily in the form of frozen chicken leg quarters. These U.S. chicken leg quarters enter the Peruvian market predominantly through large importers and distributors who supply the booming foodservice sector, major retail chains, and food processors, driven by their competitive pricing and versatility in local cuisine.

Table 9: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Poultry Meat (MT)   

Peru’s pork industry has seen consistent growth over the past decade, driven by increasing domestic demand and improved production, though its annual per capita consumption of roughly 11 kg remains low compared to other South American nations. The country also relies on pork imports, with volumes rising in recent years, despite local production gains. While the U.S. has maintained a steady 13 percent share of this import market, it lags behind Chile (over 60 percent) and Brazil (approximately 15 percent), highlighting the competitive dominance of regional suppliers. The Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation (MIDAGRI) aims to double per capita pork consumption by 2030, underscoring the potential for further market expansion in Peru.

Table 10: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Pork Meat (MT)   

Peru’s apple market relies significantly on imports, making up 25 percent of its total apple supply. While domestic production is concentrated in the Lima region, it’s largely overshadowed by foreign fruit. Chile traditionally dominates the import market, accounting for a massive 90 percent of all imported apples. Despite Chile’s strong presence, the United States has carved out a crucial niche. From November to early March, U.S. apples often have the market largely to themselves, filling a vital trade window. In 2024, U.S. apple exports to Peru saw a notable increase. This surge was driven by several factors: a robust U.S. apple season, more competitive pricing, and supply disruptions from Chile, which temporarily lessened their market dominance.

Table 11: Production, Supply, & Distribution (PS&D) Code: Apples (MT)  

Dog food drives Peru’s pet food market, accounting for 78 percent. However, cat food is growing in popularity with 20 percent market share. The remaining two percent is for birds, fish, and small mammal/reptiles. Three companies control approximately 70 percent of the market: Rinti SA, Nestlé SA, and Molitalia Sales. Delivery is an essential channel for premium, therapeutic, and wet products.  However, inflation has impacted the sales of imported pet food.

Table 12: Product Statistics & Data (PS&D) Code: Pet Food (Thousand MT)

Peru is a heavy consumer of pulses and 85 percent of its imports come from the United States and Canada. Of U.S. imports, around 50 percent are lentils, 25 percent are peas, and 15 percent are beans. Peru is a large producer of green peas, faba beans, and regular beans. Approximately 75 percent of pulses are sold in warehouse districts where pulses are displayed and sold in bulk. Wholesalers then distribute pulses all over Peru through distributors, packers, and government programs. The category will continue modernizing and the traditional channel is expected to shrink by six percent in the next five years.

Table 13: Product Statistics & Data (PS&D) Code: Pulses (Thousand MT)

The consumption of lumber and wood products in Peru is driven mainly by the construction and mining sectors. Peruvian imports are focused on Wafer Board, Particle Board, Softwood Lumber, Plywood and Oriented Strand Board (OSB). In 2024, Ecuador accounted for 22 percent of Peru’s imported forest products market along with China at 22 percent and Chile at 21 percent. Significant advancement is expected in the coming years driven by private and public investment, reduction of interest rates, expected growth of domestic consumption, and key infrastructure and mining projects within Peru.

Table 14: Product Statistics & Data (PS&D) Code: Forest Products (USD Millions) 

Peru is the world leader in the production and export of fishmeal, representing approximately 25 percent of global production. Peru also produces frozen seafood products due its large industry with 200 seafood processing plants, but at the same time struggles with production volume volatility despite the existing infrastructure. Peru has potential as a global reprocessing hub that can provide the U.S. opportunities to grow its presence globally.

Table 15: Product Statistics & Data (PS&D) Code: Seafood Products (USD Millions) 

Asociación Peruana de Porcicultores (Pork Producers Association)  
Pomalca 351 Urb. Centro Comercial Monterrico, Surco Lima – 33, Perú 
Tel.: (511) 436-3729, 436-4168 
E-mail: info@asoporci.org.pe
Guillermo Vidal, President; Ana Maria Trelles, General Manager 

Asociación Peruana de Avicultura (Poultry Producers Association) 
Av. Esmeralda 255 Chacarilla del Estanque, San Borja Lima – 33, Perú 
Tel.: (511) 372-1540 
E-mail: apacomunicationes@apa.org.pe
Julio Favre, President; Mario Berrocal, General Manager

Asociación de Ganaderos Lecheros del Peru (AGALEP) (Dairy Producers Association) 
Mateo Pumacahua No. 877, Oficina 306 Jesus Maria Lima– 11, Peru 
Tel: (511) 423-4642 / (501) 431-0549 
E-mail: agalep@infonegocio.net.pe
Nivia Vargas, President

Comité de Molinos de Trigo (Wheat Millers Committee) 
Los Laureles 365 San Isidro Lima – 27, Peru 
Tel.: (511) 616 4444, ext. 131 and (511) 442-2460 
E-mail: adaly@sni.org.pe
Alejandro Daly, President 

U.S. Department of Agriculture/ Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) 
(U.S. Embassy Lima, Peru) 
Unit 3230, Box 381 
DPO AA 34031 
Tel: (511) 618-2491, 434-3042 l Fax: (511) 434-3043 
Email: Aglima@fas.usda.gov

Staff: 
·    Anthony Gilbert, Regional Agricultural Counselor 
·    Robert Tuebner, Regional Agricultural Attaché 
·    Gaspar Nolte, Senior Agricultural Specialist 
·    Alvaro Loza, Agricultural Marketing Specialist 
·    Miluska Camacho, Agricultural Specialist

U.S. Department of Agriculture 
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. - MS 1071 
Washington, D.C. 20250 
Western Hemisphere Area Director, Office of Foreign Service Operations 
Tel: (202) 720-3223; Fax: (202) 720-5183 

U.S. Department of Agriculture/ Foreign Agricultural Service 
Trade Assistance and Promotion Office 
Tel: (202) 720-3935