Peru will be the center of trade between South America and Asia with the port of Chancay: “It will mark a milestone”

Trade relations between Peru and China will be considerably strengthened in 2024 with the inauguration of the port of Chancay, as Diana Pita told La República. The economic specialist of the Asian giant also explained that, in 2023, the country registered the sum of US$23,000 million in exports to the Chinese market.

Pita ended her term as economic and commercial advisor of PromPerú in Beijing this past March after 12 years of work. In conversation with this medium, she specified which products are currently exported the most to China and what other goods could arrive in this country in the future for marketing.

—How much have Peru’s exports to China grown in the last year?

—In 2024, we have celebrated 14 years since the signing of the FTA between Peru and China. In 2010, total Peruvian exports to China were, between traditional and non-traditional products, US$5 billion. In 2023, we close with US$23,000 million. We have had a growth of more than 300%.

In the case of non-traditional exports, which have added value, generate employment and wealth, last year they grew around 36%. We are talking about approximately US$962 million. This group is divided into non-traditional agricultural exports, fishery products and textiles.

In 2023, regarding non-traditional agricultural exports, although it was a year with many challenges, we achieved a record figure of US$377 million. This represents an approximate increase of 14%. While in fishing exports, we are talking about an increase of 60%, which amounts to about US$444 million.

We see that the sector that represents us with the greatest presence in the Chinese market is agricultural exports. Thus, the Peru positions itself in China as a reliable and safe food supplier.

—What agricultural products have been exported the most to China?

—Of the total agricultural products that we send to China, approximately 80% are fruits. The main foods are blueberries, avocados and grapes. A little further down the list are citrus fruits.

I have been able to see the blueberry taking off. In 2017, we exported US$30 million. While, in 2023, we end up with almost US$130 million in exports. In the case of avocado, (export) began in 2016 and, now, close to US$65 million is generated.

Regarding grapes, the country is the second main supplier of this fruit to China in the world. As for blueberries, we lead world exports to the Asian country.

In relation to the avocado, for six years, we have stood out as the number one supplier of this food to the Chinese market. I remember that, between 2012 and 2013, when I started taking Chinese businessmen to Peru, they did not know about this product. We made them try it and they thought it had a strange taste. With the promotion made by Peru and other countries, it is now part of the daily diet of local consumers.

—The Chancay megaport will be inaugurated in 2024. What opportunities will this work open for trade between Peru and China?

—It will mark a milestone in the commercial relations that Peru has with China and the rest of Asia. The benefit will not only fall on our exports, but we will also become a hub within the region. We will be able to consolidate cargo from other Latin American countries to bring them to China and other Asian markets. That is a very important economic boost.

The benefit will also occur in productive investments. Investments are expected to take off in the logistics, technology and even manufacturing sectors because Chinese companies and other nations will be able to do business in the Chancay port area and, from there, produce and export to the Chinese and Asian markets. other places.

Agricultural and fishing products from Peru will also benefit because transportation time will be shortened by about 10 or 12 days. In addition, logistics costs would be reduced. All this will allow Peruvian items to arrive in more competitive conditions.

—What other Peruvian products could soon enter the Chinese market?

—In the case of fruits, negotiations for the health protocol for pomegranates are advanced. If we talk about fishing, we see that our main product is squid. And you can diversify with shrimp, as well as other value-added goods.

If we manage to shorten the transportation distance, more non-traditional products will reach the Chinese market under competitive conditions. That’s the main.

—What projection is there this year for trade relations between Peru and China with APEC 2024?

—It is a very important year. I feel calm about finishing my term because I feel that I have laid the foundations, together with my team, for everything that comes after. I feel that The best is yet to come in Peru’s relations with China.

APEC is going to be a very important platform to boost exports, services and investment. (…) This year it is also expected that consumption and the Chinese economy will begin to recover. If we add to that the exposure that APEC gives Peru, it will be a good starting point to recover that strength (of growth).