Peru: Merchandise exports accelerate in February
Merchandise exports soared 17.9% year-on-year in February (January: +14.1% year-on-year). February’s result marked the strongest expansion since July 2018. Meanwhile, merchandise imports climbed 15.9% over the same month last year in February (January: -9.4% yoy), marking the best result since April 2018.
As a result, the merchandise trade balance deteriorated from the previous month, recording a USD 0.7 billion surplus in February (January 2021: USD 1.2 billion surplus; February 2020: USD 0.6 billion surplus). Lastly, the trend improved, with the 12-month trailing merchandise trade balance recording a USD 8.8 billion surplus in February, compared to the USD 8.6 billion surplus in January.