Peru’s personal care & specialty chemical exports hit USD 89M in early 2026

PERU – According to a report by Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), the country’s exports of essential oils, cosmetics and surfactants totaled USD 89 million between January and July 2026.

The USD 89 million figure falls within the broader chemical products category, now valued at USD 1.226 billion, up 9.9%, while Peru’s total national exports reached USD 63.521 billion, up 33%. 

According to Mincetur, this marks Peru’s 27th consecutive month of export growth.

The organic and inorganic chemical products rose 14.1% to USD 363 million and medicines increased 5.1% to USD 53 million, indicating that the essential oils, cosmetics, and surfactants line is growing more slowly than other chemical sub-sectors. 

This beauty-related line accounts for about 0.14% of Peru’s total export value.

China and the United States remained Peru’s top overall export destinations in the period, absorbing USD 24.340 billion and US$5.971 billion respectively, while the European Union took US$5.618 billion, up 6.5%. 

Mincetur also reported 8,305 exporting companies, up 3%, with 66% classified as small and medium-sized enterprises.

Separately, Mincetur classifies natural colorants under agricultural exports rather than chemicals, and these shipments were worth USD 232 million in the same seven-month period, up 2.5% and roughly 2.6 times the value of the entire essential oils, cosmetics and surfactants group.

Most of this value comes from cochineal carmine, a red pigment extracted from the cochineal insect and widely used in lipsticks, lip glosses, blushes, eyeshadows and nail polishes. 

Peru supplies an estimated 70–80% of global cochineal carmine and exported USD 339.35 million of it in 2025, with Denmark, Brazil and the United States cited as key destinations and Chinese demand reported to be growing by over 50% annually.

However, both beauty-facing export streams face potential structural pressures.

In essential oils, the European Commission has requested the Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety to evaluate cuminaldehyde and p‑cymene, naturally occurring molecules in cumin, thyme and oregano oils that cannot be removed without removing the oils themselves; scientific opinions are expected around April 2027.

On the colorant side, carmine-free formulation is gaining traction. 

US-based Sun Chemical has expanded its vegan pigment range in response to customer demand for carmine alternatives, while biotech firm Debut has developed lab-produced carminic acid, offering non-insect-derived red pigment options.

Peru’s Trade, Tourism and Investment Commission recently leveraged international trade fairs to promote Amazon-sourced inputs to global formulators. 

In April 2026, it took 13 companies from Lima, San Martín, Cusco and Loreto to In-cosmetics Global in Paris, where the national pavilion generated around USD 1.29 million in business, combining on-site sales with opportunities projected over 12 months.

Exhibits highlighted vegetable oils such as sacha inchi, copaiba, aguaje and ungurahui; essential oils including palo santo, palo rosa and muña; butters from murumuru, copoazú and cacao; and botanical extracts like camu camu, vanilla and maca. 

The export update arrives as buyers increasingly distinguish between “natural” and “ethical” sourcing, giving traceable, well-documented botanical supply chains added commercial value.

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