DATCP proudly represented Wisconsin at the USDA Agribusiness Trade Mission to Peru from June 10 to 13. The mission brought together 35 U.S. agribusinesses, 17 industry cooperators and associations, and five state departments of agriculture to explore one of Latin America's fastest-growing markets. According to the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Peru, the country is the third-largest export market for U.S. agricultural products in South America. Since the U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement took effect in 2009, bilateral agricultural trade has grown from $1.46 billion to $5.0 billion in 2023—an increase of 166%. The United States was Peru's second-largest agricultural supplier in 2023, accounting for 21% of total imports. Driven by a growing middle class and a strong reputation for culinary excellence, Peru's demand for high-quality, diverse, and innovative food products continues to rise, offering significant opportunities for Wisconsin exporters.
Over the course of the trade mission, 491 business-to-business meetings were facilitated between U.S. exporters and Peruvian and Ecuadorian buyers. Wisconsin products received strong interest, particularly dairy, meat, and animal feed ingredients items. Mission highlights included a trip to the Port of Callao, a major regional hub for refrigerated cargo; a tour of Gloria, a global leader in condensed milk; and a stop at a blueberry nursery. Each visit reinforced our sense of Peru's expanding food and agribusiness sector and its growing need for quality products to support processing, logistics, and distribution.
We extend many thanks to USDA FAS and the U.S. Embassy in Peru for organizing this dynamic and impactful trade mission. DATCP looks forward to building on these connections and advancing Wisconsin's presence in this promising market.