Peruvian exports totaled $3.67 billion in February, up 9 percent from the same month last year, according to the exporters’ association, Adex.
The growth rate in exports, however, was significantly slower than in January, when shipments abroad increased 27 percent year-on-year, state news agency Andina reported.
The slowdown in growth was the result of a slowdown in mineral exports due to concerns about the economic crisis in Europe and a decrease in demand from China, according to Adex president Juan Varilias.
A 20 percent decrease in exports of petroleum by-products also had an impact on the export total, Varilias said.
Varilias called on government authorities to implement measures to safeguard Peru’s exports.
In the first two months of this year, exports increased 19 percent. Traditional exports for the two-month period totaled $5.87 billion, up 20 percent from the year-ago period. Meanwhile, non-traditional exports totaled $1.66 billion, up 15 percent from the same period last year.
Peru’s mineral exports totaled $4.45 billion in January and February.
