Historic increase in Peruvian cocoa and coffee exports

In a historic event for the Peruvian agricultural sector, exports of cocoa and coffee have recorded significant growth between 2023 and 2024.

The value of cocoa exports increased by almost 200%, while coffee exports grew by 33%, jointly reaching a figure close to 2.4 billion dollars. This amount even exceeds the exports of the so-called “blue gold”, blueberries, a prominent item in the national economy.

The opening hours will be like Saturdays, from 6 am to 9 pm from the Matellini terminal, in Chorrillos, to the Central station, in Cercado de Lima, and from 6:30 am to 9 pm, in the opposite direction.

Unlike blueberries, which are produced in large coastal plantations with advanced technology and world-class resources, Peruvian coffee and cocoa represent highly inclusive value chains.

More than 300,000 small independent producers cultivate approximately 690,000 hectares in the Amazon, facing significant challenges such as lack of technical assistance, adequate technology, efficient management and financing.

This achievement becomes more relevant when considering that 90% of the value of the international price is received directly by producers, thanks to the competition between more than 400 exporting companies. This situation guarantees that the benefit of high international prices directly impacts small farmers.

The role of alternative development programs

The success of coffee and cocoa is also attributed to their inclusion in the investment portfolio of alternative development programs implemented by DEVIDA, USAID, the European Union, GIZ and other international cooperators for more than 25 years. These programs have been fundamental to integrate farmers who abandoned illegal crops, such as coca, and opted for products with high potential in the international market.

Although the results are encouraging, great challenges remain to consolidate and expand the success of these value chains, indicated José Yturrios, director of the consulting firm Resources-Division of Sustainable Agriculture and Climate Change: “It is crucial to inject technology into the production of coffee and cocoa to reduce costs, increase productivity and mitigate pressure on forests, reducing deforestation. Likewise, it is essential to incorporate small producers in climate financing initiatives, an area currently neglected in these chains.”

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