Peru: Trade surplus narrows in April but exports continue to rise strongly
Peru’s trade balance recorded a USD 398 million surplus in April, narrowing from March’s USD 616 million surplus but a substantial increase from the USD 154 million surplus recorded in the same month of last year.
Growth in exports remained robust in April, coming in at 23.0% year-on-year expansion from March’s strong 25.5% increase. Growth came mainly on the back of soaring overseas sales of copper, zinc and natural gas as well as of non-metallic minerals and iron and steel products. Traditional fishing exports, on the other hand, continued to decline. Meanwhile, imports rose 16.0% annually in April, on higher purchases of raw materials for industry and transport equipment, above March’s 10.6% growth.
In the 12 months leading up to April, the trade surplus was USD 7.1 billion, above March’s USD 6.8 billion and the highest reading since July 2012.