Global food trade is projected to grow by 1.5% in 2025 compared to 2024, presenting opportunities for Peru's agricultural exports, according to Edgar Vásquez Vela, director of the Center for Global Economics and Business Research of the Exporters Association (Cien-Adex). He noted that while this growth rate is lower than the previous year's 2% expansion, demand will continue in key markets such as the European Union, the United States, and China.
Vela shared these insights during the launch of Expoalimentaria 2025, an international event scheduled in Lima, Peru, from September 24 to 26 at the Jockey Convention Center. He mentioned that the European bloc is expected to purchase approximately $100 billion in foreign food, the United States $41 billion, and China $22 billion.
"Peru has free trade agreements with these three major economies, which gives us a significant advantage. In the case of the United States, although a 10% tariff has been applied since April, the fact that we are working from a zero base allows us to maintain a differential that gives us support to continue competing," he emphasized.
In 2024, the U.S. market was the leading destination for Peruvian agro-industrial products, accounting for 35.5% of the total exports. Other destinations included the Netherlands (14.4%), Spain (6.5%), Chile (3.6%), and the United Kingdom (3.6%). Vásquez Vela indicated that in 2025, global trade in fruits and vegetables will surpass cereals. "It is important to highlight this because it is a segment (Fruits and vegetables) where Peru is very strong and we still have room to continue growing," he emphasized.
In 2024, fruits constituted 53.8% of Peru's agricultural export basket, valued at $6.682 billion, followed by vegetables and other plant products ($1.777 billion), and cocoa and cocoa derivatives ($1.281 billion). Coffee and coffee products reached $1.102 billion, with food industry products at $965 million, cereals at $185 million, and legumes at $130 million.
Peru ranks as the world's ninth-largest supplier of fruits and holds various positions in other categories. Cien-Adex projected a 6.6% increase in Peruvian agricultural exports this year, reaching nearly $13.2 billion. "This is an activity that generates 56% of export-related jobs, and due to its nature, the closer it is to the exporter, the more formal the employment, so expanding shipments to the world is crucial for the formalization of the country's economy," Vásquez Vela noted.
Expoalimentaria 2025 is organized by ADEX with support from various Peruvian ministries and the Peruvian Export and Tourism Promotion Commission (Promperú). Last year's edition included 687 exhibitors and over 2,700 business meetings, with an expected 12-month business turnover of $695 million.
Source: Andina