Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Info provided by the
American Chamber of Commerce of Peru (AmCham Peru)

Leaving the anecdotic name aside, the Brazilian Nut has a very dynamic demand globally that has risen with the greatest consumption of healthy products. Also, considering that this product is an excellent source of Selenium, Magnesium and Thiamine and are full of proteins and carbohydrates, it constitutes an ideal diuretic food and a medicinal option for ear affections.

Taking advantage of that trend, Peruvian exports of Brazilian Nuts area expanding to new markets as Hong Kong and Vietnam and add to the traditional list of countries like United States, United Kingdom and Canada that together account for almost 92% of our current exports.

Between January and September of 2007, the volume of exported Brazilian nuts grew by 4.7% overcoming the barrier of 10 million dollars. Even when United States is already the main market for this product, it is important to notice that due to the preferences of the PTPA that will entry in force in January 2009, our country faces the opportunity of increasing its sales to this market using the preferential access.

On the other hand, given the fact that Peru exports Brazilian nuts in a primary state, our country faces also the challenge of selling these products with greater transformation. So, we could sell nuts without shell and toasted, packed for snacks or conditioned to be used in chocolates, candies and bakery products in general. Additionally, it is possible to explore the potential hidden of this product for the cosmetic industry as an input for oils, make up and beauty products.

Then, it is evident that in this, as in many cases, our country has a wide potential to expand its sales to this market but also has the opportunity to increase the value of the exported products and obtain greater profits that may give an extra impulse to the generation of more and better jobs for Peruvians.