The start of 2026 has presented a particularly challenging scenario for the Peruvian agricultural export sector. Following a volatile end to 2025, the maritime freight market began the year with sustained rate increases, directly impacting the competitiveness of agricultural shipments and forcing exporters to rethink their logistics strategy with greater anticipation and control.

For a country whose agricultural exports depend heavily on distant markets and precise trade windows, the behavior of the Chinese market is once again a determining factor. China not only handles a large portion of global cargo traffic, but also acts as the main price barometer for the summer season on major transpacific routes.

The China effect and the pressure on agricultural campaigns

The approach of the Lunar New Year has intensified the demand for space on ships. In 2026, this phenomenon has been exacerbated by an early rush by companies to secure supplies, cargo, and containers before the temporary closure of Asian factories and ports.

For Peruvian agricultural exporters —especially those linked to fresh fruits, citrus fruits, grapes, avocados and blueberries— this pressure translates into less available space, abrupt increases in spot rates and greater exposure to delays that can compromise product quality and compliance with international buyers.

The Asia-America and Asia-West Coast routes have seen double-digit increases, indirectly impacting global logistics costs and raising the risk for agri-food supply chains, where time and traceability are critical.

Why are freight costs rising? Direct impact on agricultural exports

The increase in freight costs is due to a combination of factors that hit the agricultural sector particularly hard:

• Strategic capacity adjustments by the shipping companies, which reduce available space to maintain high rates, limiting the flexibility of exporters.
• Higher operating costs, driven by rising fuel prices and the application of stricter environmental regulations, whose additional costs are passed on to freight.
• Congestion at key portsgenerating delays, itinerary changes and greater exposure to additional costs such as demurrage and detention.
• Geopolitical and tariff uncertaintywhich increases risk surcharges and affects contractual stability on strategic routes.

For the agricultural exporter, these factors not only impact the cost of transportation, but also the profitability of the campaign and the commercial relationship with their clients at the destination.

A new scenario for the Peruvian agricultural exporter

By 2026, the competitiveness of agricultural exports will no longer depend solely on field productivity or market access, but also on the ability to anticipate complex logistical scenarios. This was highlighted by the Peruvian Association of Maritime Agents (APAM), which emphasized that early planning and monitoring of the Asian market will be crucial for maintaining profit margins in a highly volatile environment.

Maritime logistics has entered a “new normal” where cost overruns, delays, and contractual disputes are increasingly common. For a sector that deals with perishable goods and strict commercial commitments, this scenario demands more technical, proactive, and resilient logistics management.

Legal prevention: a key tool to protect profitability

Rising tariffs and operational pressures significantly increase the risk of disputes with shipping lines and logistics operators. Cargo detentions, excessive demurrage charges, unilateral changes to contractual terms, and port delays are becoming increasingly common in the agricultural export trade.

In this context, specialized legal counsel ceases to be reactive and becomes a strategic tool. Proper contract review, technical dispute management, and timely defense against abusive practices prevent logistical problems from eroding the profitability of the campaign or affecting the exporter's cash flow.