The growth in agricultural exports from both countries has changed the landscape of international fruit trade. Technological advancements, modern infrastructure, and a focus on new crops have transformed regional competition, while key markets like the United States absorb a diverse and increasingly sophisticated supply.

Peru's agricultural exports have surpassed Chile's figures for the first time, consolidating a shift in South American leadership and highlighting the evolution of two successful national strategies that face different possibilities and risks.

According to the consulting firm Fresh fruitBetween January and October 2025, Peru accumulated agricultural shipments of more than US$11.300 billion, while Chile reached US$10.700 billion, in a race that until a few years ago seemed to have only one winner and that today shows an unprecedented change.

In less than two decades, both countries built platforms capable of transforming entire regions thanks to the boost from agribusiness. Peru and Chile have established themselves as the largest agricultural exporters in the Southern Hemisphere, with portfolios that move billions of dollars each year.

During 2024, Peruvian agricultural exports stood at US$12.300 billion and Chilean exports at US$13.100 billion, a much smaller gap than in previous years.

Peru's growth has been dizzying: its main products—blueberries, grapes, avocados, coffee, and cocoa—lead a basket that, in the words of Rony Corvera, director of Fresh fruit, “it shows substantial growth, because they have taken the agricultural issue seriously.”

Thus, in the last decade, the compound annual growth of Peruvian agricultural exports reached 12,4% between 2021 and 2024, compared to 7,6% registered by Chile, according to the consultancy.

This leap has not gone unnoticed. Chile, traditionally a pillar of agricultural exports in South America, faces the real “threat” of losing its preeminent position; the difference that previously separated the two countries in international fruit sales has been drastically reduced due to Peru's dynamism.

According to sources from the Ministry of Agrarian Development and Irrigation of Peru (Midagri), "if the race included agricultural shipments in general, Peru would dethrone Chile this very year 2025," an opinion supported by official data.

Two bets

Each nation's export structure reflects success stories, but with different approaches. In the case of Peru, the high concentration in a few products explains its recent international prominence.

In 2024, blueberries, grapes, avocados, cocoa, and coffee accounted for 64% of total exports, reaching 80% when considering the top ten products. blueberryWith US$2.342 billion that year, it leads the portfolio and its growth has marked a milestone for Peruvian agriculture.

According to figures from Andina, Peruvian blueberry exports reached an average annual rate of 122% between 2010 and 2024, reaching a record US$2.270 billion in the last year.

Midagri itself highlighted: “In the following years the participation rate showed the opposite trend, and currently Peru's participation is at 83% and Chile's at 17%".

Avocados and grapes complete Peru's top three exports. In 2024 alone, the country exported US$1.248 billion worth of avocados and US$1.705 billion worth of grapes, surpassing Chilean figures of US$292 million and US$1.341 billion, respectively.

For its part, Chile remained strong thanks to an offering focused on temperate-climate fruit and processed products such as bottled wine. Cherries were the star product, with shipments totaling US$1.847 billion between January and October 2025, while table grapes and wine totaled US$1.312 billion and US$1.219 billion, respectively.

The Chilean portfolio is more diverse by species, although its seasonality is high. The bulk of the cherries are harvested between December and February. Apples, kiwis, and plums have distinct seasons between April and July. Wine, apples, blueberriesPlums and nuts add resilience and complementarity.

Ivan Marambio, President of Chile Fruits, explains that Peru's rise “This is explained by a combination of several factors, including a powerful Agricultural Development Law with significant tax benefits; a national irrigation infrastructure with state support; subtropical climatic conditions; and also Chilean investment and know-how, which have helped to develop the Peruvian industry.”.

The battle of numbers

Peru's growth is based on strategic decisions. The implementation of an Agricultural Promotion Law, which reduced the corporate tax rate to 15%, and an ambitious national irrigation plan that aims to add 1 million new hectares, are some of the pillars that allow projections of up to US$23.500 billion in agricultural exports by 2032 and US$37.500 billion by 2040.

In parallel, the Peruvian State has promoted the expansion of Lima's international airport and the construction of a new megaport in Chancay, to strengthen logistics and better take advantage of global opportunities.

Large Peruvian companies, including Camposol, Olam Agro Perú and Machu Picchu FoodsThey have led the way in entering key markets and diversifying their offerings.

The massive inclusion of Chilean executives and entrepreneurs in Peruvian agricultural export development has also made a difference.The people in Peru are very hardworking and responsible. And every Chilean entrepreneur who has come here has been able to connect with their culture and has learned to work with them.”"This is noted by Luis Chadwick, president of Agrícola San Clemente."

Chile, in addition to expanding its portfolio —in 2024 it shipped 3 million tons in volume of cherries, apples, grapes, blueberries, kiwis and others— faces a dilemma in how to measure competition.

Chilean experts warn about the bias in figures depending on what each country considers in its exports: “Be careful what you compare”A large part of Peru's shipments include processed products, cereals and vegetables, while Chile only counts fresh fruit in the most cited international rankings.

Despite this, the recognition of the Peruvian jump is unanimous. According to Andina, “The dynamism of Peruvian agricultural exports has accelerated its growth rate by two years, allowing it to surpass Chilean exports by 2025.”From 2010 to 2024, Peru's value grew at an average annual rate of 11%, compared to Chile's 6,1%.

The US market

Peru's relationship with the United States deserves special mention within this context. The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the two countries was crucial in positioning the US market as the top destination, with US$3.687 billion in agricultural exports projected for October 2025, equivalent to one-third of total Peruvian exports, according to Fresh Fruit.

The structure of US demand, combined with the seasonality of Peruvian campaigns, has allowed agricultural exports to that market to grow 235% in the last decade.

Products like the blueberry (US$861 million between January and October 2025), coffee (US$524 million in the same period), grapes and avocados support the portfolio in North America and define the national export cycle. “These products alone totaled US$2.227 billion, representing an increase of around 25% compared to the same period in 2024,” Fresh Fruit details.

This institutional link also translates into job benefits. Of the 530.000 formal jobs generated by the Peruvian agricultural export sector, approximately 473.000 are linked to companies that export to the United States, according to estimates from the consulting firm.

Challenges and risks

Both countries share structural challenges. They depend on logistical routes to demanding markets and increasingly stringent regulatory frameworks for sustainability and phytosanitary standards.

In the words of a Chilean exporter consulted by La Tercera, “If Chile added up all the food, fresh, frozen and processed, that it exports, it would have exceeded US$15 billion last year.”

Despite this, Peruvian competition has motivated Chile to redouble its efforts in innovation, opening new markets and productive sophistication.

Peru's specialization in tropical and subtropical products, such as coffee, cocoa, organic bananas and various pulps, has made it an indispensable supplier to certain segments of the global market, while Chile continues to capitalize on its expertise in cherries, nuts and wine.

Competition gives way to collaborative scenarios. Carlos Inga, director of Economic Studies at Midagri, stated that “There is a clear intention on the part of governments and their companies to form strategic alliances in order to jointly promote and offer products such as avocados, blueberries, citrus fruits or grapes throughout the year, thus mitigating the limitations of seasonal supply in large markets that demand high volume, quality and price.”.

Without a final conclusion, the data confirms that the dispute between Peru and Chile opens new narratives for South American agriculture, in a cycle where cooperation and competitiveness continue to determine the pace of international markets.

Both countries, now regional powers, face the next decade with the challenge of diversifying destinations, consolidating logistical innovation and maintaining the quality that brought them to the forefront of global agricultural exports.