Peru Country Commercial Guide
Learn about the market conditions, opportunities, regulations, and business conditions in Peru, prepared by at U.S. Embassies worldwide by Commerce Department, State Department and other U.S. agencies’ professionals.
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eCommerce
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Cross-border e-commerce has emerged as a vital channel for U.S. small businesses to boost exports, leveling the competitive playing field. In recent years, both retail and B2B businesses have shifted resources to online platforms to meet rising demand and ensure business survival. Counseling services assist clients in developing effective digital sales strategies to enhance their competence as online exporters and identify overseas opportunities. Additionally, the Website Globalization Review (WGR) Service supports U.S. clients by optimizing their online presence for international sales.

Overview

eCommerce is rapidly reshaping business and consumer activity in Peru. By 2024, about 335,000 businesses—representing approximately 6.4 percent of all formally registered companies—were active online, reflecting a major uptick in digital adoption across the country. While many Peruvians maintain an affinity for in-person purchases, e-commerce sales continue to grow substantially; $15.6 billion in 2024, a 21.2 percent increase over the previous year, driven by over 55 percent of Peruvians making online purchases. Growth was especially strong in technology, fashion, department stores, marketplaces, pet supplies, and digital goods and services, with retail alone accounting for $5.9 billion in online sales. The tourism sector, particularly airlines, also experienced a significant rebound.

Expansion is fueled by the widespread use of digital wallets and mobile payments, yet challenges persist: credit card access is limited, trust in online commerce is still developing, and logistics infrastructure continues to improve. Key payment gateways driving Peru’s e-commerce include Culqui, Mercado Pago, PayPal, PayU, PagoEfectivo, Pay-me, and Niubiz. With e-commerce now representing 5.5 percent of Peru’s GDP, this sector is expected to keep expanding as digital infrastructure and payment solutions advance nationwide.

Legal and Regulatory

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated eCommerce growth in Peru, with sales advancing five years’ worth of progress in just six months. This necessitated a proposal to improve and modernize the Consumer Protection and Defense Code to regulate eCommerce. While Bill No. 415/2021-CR was introduced in the Peruvian Congress in 2021 to establish a minimum standard of compliance for digital transactions, guarantee consumer safety and health against dangerous products, and encourage the resolution of disputes between businesses and consumers, there remains no legislation or regulations governing online consumer interactions in Peru. 

The Peruvian government has established a special task force for online payments called E-Gob Peru and managed by the Secretaría de Gobierno y Transformación Digital (SEGDI). The task force is developing Gov2Citizens solutions for tax payments, as well as providing information on customs and foreign trade and Gov2Gov transactions to reduce expenses within different agencies. Operational services include a citizen ID service portal and business assistance services for small and medium-sized companies.  Additionally, the Peruvian government is implementing an Electronic Procurement System (SEACE: Sistema Electrónico de Adquisiciones y Contrataciones del Estado) to improve the transparency and efficiency of government purchasing. 

Consumer Behavior, Digital Marketing, and Social Media

In Peru, the main digital marketing channels are email marketing, social media, search engine optimization (SEO), and search engine advertising banners. In 2024, online shoppers in Peru continued to reach vendor sites through various platforms, with marketplaces like Falabella.com, Mercado Libre, and Plaza Vea dominating traffic alongside growing cross-border platforms such as Amazon and AliExpress. This trend reflects merchants’ ongoing efforts to enhance their direct eCommerce presence while adapting to changing consumer behavior patterns.

In 2024, mobile eCommerce purchases accounted for approximately 74 percent of total eCommerce purchases in Peru, continuing the upward trend from previous years. Smartphones remain increasingly popular in Peru, with 31.35 million mobile phones accessing the internet as of December 2024.

The preferred payment methods for online purchases have evolved significantly by 2024. Debit cards now lead at 45 percent, followed by credit cards at 18 percent (internationally enabled), cash vouchers at 19 percent, and digital wallets at 11 percent. Bank transfers account for 2 percent of transactions. The most popular mobile payment applications are Yape and PLIN.

Domestic eCommerce (B2C) Providers

Consumers have a variety of providers from which to purchase goods and services online either directly from larger businesses or from large and small businesses alike via third-party delivery apps.  For example, consumers can order groceries directly from Plaza Vea, Wong, and Tottus, the three largest supermarket chains in Peru, or via Rappi and PedidosYa, the first and second largest delivery apps in country.  Consumers can do the same for larger department stores such as Falabella and Ripley.  eCommerce platforms similar to U.S.-based Amazon include Mercado Libre and Linio (owned by Falabella).  Amazon still has a very limited presence in Peru.

Intellectual Property Rights 

Peru’s National Institute for the Defense of Free Competition and the Protection of Intellectual Property (INDECOPI) is responsible for protecting intellectual property rights.  The agency administers patent, trademark, and copyright registrations, as well as oversees administrative enforcement cases.  INDECOPI continues to monitor websites that infringe copyright and related rights through remote inspections.

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Global Business Navigator Chatbot Beta

Welcome to the Global Business Navigator, an artificial intelligence (AI) Chatbot from the International Trade Administration (ITA). This tool, currently in beta version testing, is designed to provide general information on the exporting process and the resources available to assist new and experienced U.S. exporters. The Chatbot, developed using Microsoft’s Azure AI services, is trained on ITA’s export-related content and aims to quickly get users the information they need. The Chatbot is intended to make the benefits of exporting more accessible by understanding non-expert language, idiomatic expressions, and foreign languages.

Limitations

As a beta product, the Chatbot is currently being tested and its responses may occasionally produce inaccurate or incomplete information. The Chatbot is trained to decline out of scope or inappropriate requests. The Chatbot’s knowledge is limited to the public information on the Export Solutions web pages of Trade.gov, which covers a wide range of topics on exporting. While it cannot provide responses specific to a company’s product or a specific foreign market, its reference pages will guide you to other relevant government resources and market research. Always double-check the Chatbot’s responses using the provided references or by visiting the Export Solutions web pages on Trade.gov. Do not use its responses as legal or professional advice. Inaccurate advice from the Chatbot would not be a defense to violating any export rules or regulations.

Privacy

The Chatbot does not collect information about users and does not use the contents of users’ chat history to learn new information. All feedback is anonymous. Please do not enter personally identifiable information (PII), sensitive, or proprietary information into the Chatbot. Your conversations will not be connected to other interactions or accounts with ITA. Conversations with the Chatbot may be reviewed to help ITA improve the tool and address harmful, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate questions.

Translation

The Chatbot supports a wide range of languages. Because the Chatbot is trained in English and responses are translated, you should verify the translation. For example, the Chatbot may have difficulty with acronyms, abbreviations, and nuances in a language other than English.

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