PERU TRADE AND INVESTMENT BRIEFS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LIMA 000693 SIPDIS SIPDIS COMMERCE FOR 4331/MAC/WH/MCAMERON TREASURY FOR MMALLOY USTR FOR BHARMAN AND MCARRILLO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD ECON EFIN USTR PE SUBJECT: PERU TRADE AND INVESTMENT BRIEFS SUMMARY ¶1. This is an update on the following trade and investment news from Peru: -- Imports Increase 30% First Two Months of 2008 -- Peru Reports $538 Million Trade Surplus for February -- 2007 Agriculture Exports Remain High -- Peru Investment Grade Follow On -- Strike, Environmental Challenges at Doe Run Peru -- Despite Politics, Chileans Propose More Investment in Peru -- Peruvians Interested in Purchasing North American Stocks -- Port Concessions Could Result in Significant Investment -- PTPA Agriculture Assistance Will Reach $1.2 Billion IMPORTS INCREASE 30% FIRST TWO MONTHS OF 2008 ¶2. Peru's imports are up 30.2% from the same period last year, mostly due to strong consumer demand. For January and February, capital goods were up 33.8%, consumer goods were up 42.13% and durable goods also showed an increase. The number one country of origin is the U.S. with 18.9% of the import volume, or $264.4 million in February alone. Next is China with 16.4% or $214 million followed by Japan, Mexico, and Colombia. The Korean car company Kia reported a 93% increase in imports in the first trimester due to a 71% increase in sales. PERU REPORTS $538 MILLION TRADE SURPLUS FOR FEBRUARY ¶3. Peru reported a February net trade surplus of $538 million as a result of larger than expected exports earnings due to higher prices and increased production, according to the Central Bank. Exports grew 26.4% from the same month last year to $2.411 billion, while imports totaled $1.873, resulting in a 37.2% surplus. Traditional exports were up 26.3% to $1.840 billion owing mostly to increased sales in copper (up 57.5%) and gold (up 75.4%). Non- traditional exports grew 27.6% to $559 million from the same time last year driven primarily by agriculture, fisheries, and chemicals markets. 2007 AGRICULTURE EXPORTS REMAIN HIGH ¶4. An increase in prices and high production levels led to record agricultural exports, totaling $2.167 billion in 2007, up 5% from ¶2006. Production levels were seen on average to have increased 3.1%, with a 15% increase in sugar, and an 8% increase in asparagus. The top exports in rank order were: asparagus, paprika, artichokes, grapes, avocado, and citrus. Predicted climactic conditions indicate that 2008 exports will be even higher in production and will benefit from an opening of new markets in China, Singapore and Thailand. Peru is the number one exporter of fresh asparagus to the United States and has become number one in preserved artichokes, recently overtaking Spain. PERU INVESTMENT GRADE FOLLOW ON ¶5. Despite the congratulatory mood around the Fitch Investment recent rating of Peru as investment grade BBB minus (stable),observers say that markets had largely factored in the upgrade. Peruvian assets showed some improvement, and additional investment flows into Peru in terms of both FDI and portfolio inflows will now increase marginally. Nevertheless, market observers say increases will be more substantial once an additional investment upgrade is received from one of the major raters, such as Moody's or Standard & LIMA 00000693 002 OF 003 Poor's. Fitch made the announcement based on strong improvement in Peru's fiscal and external solvency ratios, which helped counterbalance credit weakness, as well as political and social risks. Standard & Poors and Moody's rate Peru at one and two notches below investment grade respectively. STRIKE, ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AT DOE RUN PERU ¶6. The U.S.-owned Doe Run metallurgical plant in La Oroya is operating at partial strength due to a week-long strike by most of its 1,720 workers, who are demanding shorter hours and more pay. Unrelated, the Peruvian subsidiary also recently lost its environmental certification from German-based company TUV Rheinland. The Peruvian government recently gave Doe Run until next year to complete an emergency clean-up plan to alleviate toxic emissions near the smelter. The company was recently sued in U.S. federal courts for the lead poisoning of 150 Peruvian children living near the plant. DESPITE POLITICS, CHILEANS PROPOSE MORE INVESTMENT IN PERU ¶7. Despite the current bilateral dispute over maritime borders, Chilean investors remain very interested in investing more in Peru. The president of the Chilean Bank and Financial Investment Association stated Chilean investors are putting pressure on their Congress to widen its commercial agreement with Peru and approve an FTA immediately in order to invest significantly more. Peru is the third largest recipient of Chilean investment in the world, a total of $5.575 billion from 1990-2007, currently providing for over 40,000 Peruvian jobs. Chilean investors currently dominate the retail sector. This time Chilean investors are reportedly looking seriously at the energy sector. PERUVIANS INTERESTED IN BUYING NORTH AMERICAN STOCKS ¶8. The president of the Central Stock Registry predicted that Peruvian purchases of U.S. and Canadian stocks will increase $122.8 million in the first quarter of 2008 (up 147% from the same time last year),95% in stocks and 5% in bonds. He reported that sales of Peruvian stock to foreign investors this first quarter totaled $196.8 million (up 29%),86% in stocks and 14% in bonds. Most of the stocks purchased in both directions were in the mining, telecommunications, hydrocarbon, and banking and financial sectors. PORT CONCESSIONS COULD RESULT IN SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT ¶9. Peru's port concessions could result in $411 million of investment in Peru's seven ports. The ports include Paita, Salaverry, Chimbote, Ilo, San Martin, Iquitos, Pucallpa, and Yurimaguas. Peru's Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversion) stated that it will use the APEC and EU summits to attract investors from countries such as Singapore who has already expressed interest. David Lemor, the Director of Peru's Investment Promotion Agency (ProInversion),voiced concern that the Peruvian Congress will weaken potential port concessions with legislation to replace national with regional port authorities and other changes to the National Port System Law. On April 9th, the ports were shut down for two hours due to striking workers supporting the legislation. Peru's main port of Callao, outside Lima, remains troubled by inefficiencies. In June 2006, Dubai Ports World (DPW) acquired a 30-year LIMA 00000693 003 OF 003 concession to develop and operate a new terminal at Callao. PTPA AGRICULTURE ASSISTANCE WILL REACH $1.2 BILLION ¶10. The Minister of Agriclture announced $1.2 billion investment over the next five years into two programs designed to assist with U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement (PTPA) implementation. The competitiveness enhancement plan ($700 million) will aim to create economies of scale by the formation of associations with direct support for innovation, technology, and agricultural reconstruction. The agro-rural program ($500 million) will work to modernize the poorest agricultural sectors, centralizing the administration of rural development activities and projects creating a single office for all related services. It will have an emphasis on public-private partnerships with a focus on regional economic development. There will be further details in the near future. MCKINLEY