The Commercial Office of Peru (OCEX) in La Paz (in Spanish), part of Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), is seeking to expand Peruvian companies’ commerce in Bolivia, taking advantage of the geographical proximity of the two countries and the degree of complementarity between them. According to OCEX, market niches have been identified for Peruvian exports such as processed foods, textiles, plastics, and containers and packaging. In Cochabamba there is a demand for containers and packaging, and a need for suppliers for the food and textile industries. In Santa Cruz, opportunities have been identified for agribusiness, services, textiles, and food.
Peru’s exports to Bolivia added up to US$ 653 million in 2014, and were mainly of petroleum oils, iron and steel bars, baby diapers, and cement (Table 1).
Meanwhile, Bolivia’s external sales to Peru totaled US$ 525 million, the most notable exports being soybeans and their derivatives, silver ores and concentrates, and powdered milk (Table 2).
Table 1. Exports from Peru to Bolivia
In millions of US$
| 1 | Petroleum oils (diesel, fuel oil, other) | 76 |
| 2 | Iron and steel bars and rods containing indentations, ribs, and grooves | 65 |
| 3 | Baby diapers | 33 |
| 4 | Cement | 22 |
| 5 | Bars and rods of iron or steel, L sections | 16 |
| Other | 440 | |
| Total | 653 |
Source: DATAINTAL.
Table 2. Exports from Bolivia to Peru
In millions of US$
| 1 | Soybean oilcake | 204 |
| 2 | Soybeans | 63 |
| 3 | Silver ores and concentrates | 41 |
| 4 | Flour of soybeans | 35 |
| 5 | Powdered milk | 23 |
| Other | 159 | |
| Total | 525 |
Source: DATAINTAL.
