Peru recorded a US$30.793 billion trade surplus from January to August 2026, according to the central bank, Banco Central de Reserva del Perú (BCRP). Higher export prices drove much of the increase, while traditional exports, mainly raw materials, grew 48.5% over the period. The figures identify the export gains, but don't say how much of the surplus will become new investment or who will receive it.
The Export Figures
Exports from January to August totaled about US$77.4 billion, up 37.1%. Traditional exports grew 48.5%, while non-traditional exports, including agricultural goods and manufactured products, grew 3.1% over the same period. The central bank’s figures distinguish the two categories, but they don't break down the surplus by company, owner, or worker.
In August, exports reached US$10.815 billion, up 36.9% from August 2025. Average export prices rose 30.3%, while export volumes increased 5%. Higher prices, rather than volume growth alone, drove much of that month’s export increase.
Traditional exports in August totaled US$8.633 billion, up 46.9%. Non-traditional exports reached US$2.149 billion, up 7.2%. The report identifies agricultural goods and manufactured products among non-traditional exports, but doesn't give a further breakdown of those goods or the labor involved in producing them.
Imports and the Surplus
Imports reached US$6.101 billion in August, an 18.8% increase from August 2025. The monthly surplus was US$4.714 billion, US$1.949 billion higher than in August 2025. Rising imports accompanied the larger export total, but the report doesn't identify the businesses or households behind those purchases.
For January to August, the surplus was US$30.793 billion, US$12.291 billion above the same period a year earlier. The central bank also reported a US$47.723 billion surplus over the 12 months to August. It uses that rolling measure to smooth single-month swings, so the measure covers a different period from the eight-month figure.
What the Report Leaves Open
The central bank’s note didn't specify how long export prices would remain high or how much of the surplus would translate into new investment. It also contains no figures on wages, employment, profits, or the distribution of export earnings. The note names no unions, worker organizations, strikes, or other organized responses, and describes no government proposal to direct the surplus toward workers or public investment.
The report establishes the scale and composition of Peru’s trade figures, not how the proceeds are distributed. September and later figures hadn't been published. Based on a check on 20 October 2026 at 2:25 a.m. ET, The Rio Times said no active Polymarket or Kalshi market covered the data release. The Rio Times ranked Peru fifth of 14 in its Latin America Power Index, with 54.7 points in the October 2026 edition.
- peru
- trade surplus
- exports
- imports
- bcrp
- export prices