Peru is one of the most resource-rich countries in the Western Hemisphere, producing everything from copper and gold to blueberries, quinoa, and alpaca fiber. Its economy rests on three pillars: mining, agriculture, and fishing. The mining sector alone contributes around 10 percent of GDP and 15 percent of total tax revenue, according to the World Bank, but Peru’s agricultural exports have surged in recent years, making the country a surprising global leader in fresh fruit.
Mining and Minerals
Peru is one of the world’s top producers of copper, gold, zinc, silver, and lead. Copper is the country’s single most valuable export, and Peru consistently ranks among the top three copper-producing nations alongside Chile and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The country’s massive open-pit and underground mines in the Andes supply raw material for electronics, construction, and renewable energy infrastructure worldwide.
Gold mining is similarly significant, with operations concentrated in regions like Cajamarca and La Libertad. Peru also ranks as one of the top global producers of zinc and silver, metals essential for batteries, galvanizing steel, and industrial manufacturing. These minerals collectively dominate Peru’s export basket, making the country heavily dependent on commodity prices and global demand cycles.
Fresh Fruit and Agricultural Exports
Peru’s agricultural sector has transformed over the past two decades. The country is now one of the world’s largest exporters of blueberries, grapes, avocados, and mangos. Blueberry production alone reached an estimated 195,000 metric tons in the 2023/24 marketing year, with about 165,000 metric tons destined for export. Peru ships blueberries to the United States, Europe, and China, taking advantage of its counter-seasonal growing calendar to supply Northern Hemisphere markets during winter months.
Grapes account for roughly 2.1 percent of Peru’s total exports by value, while avocados, mangos, and pineapples together make up another 2 percent. Other fresh fruits push that category even higher, at nearly 3 percent of exports. The coastal desert regions of Ica and La Libertad, irrigated by Andean rivers, have become major agricultural hubs where large-scale farms grow these crops year-round.
Peru also produces significant quantities of coffee, asparagus, and cacao. Peruvian coffee, mostly arabica varieties grown in highland jungle regions, is a staple export to specialty markets in the U.S. and Europe. The country is one of the world’s top organic coffee producers.
Quinoa and Other Grains
Peru is one of the two largest quinoa producers in the world, alongside Bolivia. Production has fluctuated in recent years but was estimated at around 108,000 metric tons in 2016, and the country remains a dominant force in the global supply. Most Peruvian quinoa grows in the highlands above 3,000 meters, particularly in Puno, Ayacucho, and Junín regions. Demand surged internationally in the 2010s as quinoa gained popularity as a high-protein, gluten-free grain, and Peru expanded cultivation significantly to meet it.
Fishmeal and Seafood
The cold, nutrient-rich Humboldt Current off Peru’s Pacific coast supports one of the most productive fisheries on Earth. Peru is the world’s leading source of both fishmeal and fish oil, products made primarily from anchoveta (Peruvian anchovy) and used globally in animal feed and aquaculture.
In the first half of 2025, Peruvian catches reached 1.29 million tonnes, a 12 percent increase over the same period in 2024. The key north-central fishing region landed 2.46 million tonnes during its first season, representing about 82 percent of the 3 million tonne catch limit set by Peru’s marine research institute. The government tightly regulates fishing seasons to protect spawning stock, opening and closing windows based on biological assessments.
Fishmeal flour for animal feed represents nearly 2 percent of Peru’s total exports. Beyond industrial fishing, Peru also exports fresh and frozen seafood, including squid, shrimp, and mahi-mahi.
Alpaca and Vicuña Fiber
More than 80 percent of the world’s alpaca population lives in southern Peru, grazing at altitudes between 3,700 and 5,000 meters in the highlands northwest of Lake Titicaca. The country produces over 4 million kilograms of alpaca fiber annually, making it the dominant global supplier. About 160,000 small-scale farming families raise roughly 3.5 million alpacas to support this industry.
Peru also produces vicuña fiber, one of the rarest and most expensive natural textiles in the world. Vicuñas are wild animals, not domesticated, and Peru’s annual production is only about 5,500 kilograms from a population of around 320,000 animals. Vicuña fiber is so fine and warm that finished garments can sell for thousands of dollars. Both fibers are exported primarily to China, Germany, and Italy for processing into luxury textiles, with South American animal fiber exports valued at more than $600 million per year.
Other Notable Products
Peru produces natural gas and petroleum from fields in the Amazon basin and offshore, though it remains a net energy importer for some refined products. The Camisea gas project in the Cusco region is the country’s largest energy development and supplies both domestic consumption and liquefied natural gas for export.
The country is also a growing producer of processed foods, chemicals, and light manufactured goods for regional markets. Pisco, a grape brandy, is a nationally protected product and cultural symbol, though its export volumes are modest compared to mining and agriculture. Cacao from Peru’s jungle regions supplies an expanding craft chocolate industry, with Peruvian beans increasingly prized by specialty chocolate makers worldwide.