Peruvian exports are forecast to bring in $45.6 billion this year, with about 90% of the shipments abroad exempt from tariffs thanks to the country’s free trade agreements.
Peru has FTA’s with the United States, China, European Union, Canada and Japan, among others.
The projection for this year’s exports is 30.3 percent higher than the total registered in 2010, state news agency Andina reported, citing the Foreign Trade and Tourism Ministry.
Peru’s exports last year totaled $35 billion, up 30 percent from 2009 and 13 percent from 2008.
Non-traditional exports totaled $7.6 billion, which is 23 percent higher than the previous year, while traditional exports grew by 73 percent compared to 2009.
Peruvian shipments continue to be focused on primary materials, which represented 77 percent of the total exports, daily El Comercio reported.
The exports went to 178 markets in 2010, compared to 155 in 2001. There were also 7,200 exporting companies in 2010, compared to 4,086 firms in 2006. Ninety percent of Peru’s exporters are currently small and medium size companies (Pymes).
