Peru’s coast, highlands and rainforest combine geography and long-standing industries into a resource-rich landscape that shapes local livelihoods and national trade. From small-scale fisheries to large mining operations, the country’s natural wealth is tied to everything from traditional communities to global markets.
There are 41 Natural Resources of Peru, ranging from Anchoveta to Zinc. For each entry you’ll find below a concise row organized as Type,Annual production/value (USD),Top regions,Major uses or operators so you can quickly compare scale, location and economic role before diving deeper into any item you’ll find below.
Which resources drive Peru’s export economy today?
Mining products—particularly copper, gold and zinc—along with fishmeal from anchoveta and agricultural exports like coffee and asparagus are the biggest foreign earners. Export contribution varies year to year with prices and output, but metal production and industrial fishing consistently top the list.
How can this list help someone researching investment or conservation priorities?
The organized columns let you spot high-production or high-value resources and their core regions and operators, helping to assess economic opportunity or environmental risk. Use it to identify where to dig into permits, supply chains, or conservation measures next.
Natural Resources of Peru
| Resource | Type | Annual production/value (USD) | Top regions | Major uses or operators |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Copper | Metal | 2,300,000 tonnes | Arequipa, Ancash, Moquegua, Cajamarca | Mining (Southern Copper, MMG, Antamina) |
| Gold | Metal | 130 tonnes | La Libertad, Cajamarca, Madre de Dios, Arequipa | Mining (Newmont, Barrick, Buenaventura) |
| Silver | Metal | 3,200 tonnes | Puno, Arequipa, Pasco, Ancash | Mining (Buenaventura, Hochschild) |
| Zinc | Metal | 1,200,000 tonnes | Pasco, Ancash, Cajamarca, La Libertad | Mining (Glencore, Trafigura, Volcan) |
| Lead | Metal | 200,000 tonnes | Pasco, Ancash, Cajamarca | Mining (Volcan, Doe Run history) |
| Tin | Metal | 45,000 tonnes | Puno, Madre de Dios, San Martín | Small and medium mines, artisanal operations |
| Molybdenum | Metal | 12,000 tonnes | Ancash, Apurímac, Arequipa | Byproduct of copper mines (major miners) |
| Iron ore | Metal | 25,000,000 tonnes | Ica (Marcona), Arequipa | Mining (Shougang, others) |
| Phosphate rock | Mineral | 2,000,000 tonnes | Piura (Bayóvar), Lambayeque | Fertilizer production, agriculture |
| Coal | Energy | 500,000 tonnes | Arequipa, Pasco | Power, cement, local industry |
| Crude oil | Energy | 13,000,000 barrels | Loreto, Ucayali, Piura | Petroperú, Pluspetrol, Repsol |
| Natural gas | Energy | 12,000,000,000 m3 | Cusco (Camisea), Ucayali | Gas supply (Camisea consortium), LNG |
| Hydropower | Energy | 30,000 GWh (generation) | Cusco, Ancash, Junín, Loreto | Government, private hydro operators |
| Anchoveta | Fisheries | 5,000,000 tonnes | Peruvian coast (Humboldt Current) | Fishmeal/fish oil industry (TASA, Copeinca) |
| Fishmeal | Fisheries | 2,000,000 tonnes | Coastal processing centers | Domestic processors, exporters |
| Tuna | Fisheries | 120,000 tonnes | Piura, Tumbes, Lima | Fishing fleets, canneries (TASA, Austral) |
| Squid (Jibia) | Fisheries | 250,000 tonnes | Northern and central coast | Freezer trawlers, processors |
| Mackerel | Fisheries | 300,000 tonnes | Northern coast, Piura | Processing, domestic food markets |
| Scallops (aquaculture) | Fisheries | 40,000 tonnes | La Libertad, Ancash, Piura | Aquaculture farms, exporters |
| Potatoes | Agriculture | 4,000,000 tonnes | Cusco, Puno, Junín, Ancash | Domestic consumption, seed, processing |
| Maize | Agriculture | 6,000,000 tonnes | La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura | Animal feed, human consumption, industry |
| Rice | Agriculture | 3,000,000 tonnes | Piura, Lambayeque, San Martín | Domestic consumption, milling, exports |
| Coffee | Agriculture | 300,000 tonnes (green) | San Martín, Cajamarca, Junín | Exporters, cooperatives (organic coffee) |
| Cocoa (cacao) | Agriculture | 100,000 tonnes | Ucayali, San Martín, Amazonas | Export (fine cacao), chocolate industry |
| Asparagus | Agriculture | 220,000 tonnes | La Libertad, Ica, Lima | Exporters, agribusiness |
| Grapes | Agriculture | 1,000,000 tonnes | Ica, Lima, Arequipa | Fresh export, wine, table grapes |
| Avocado (Hass) | Agriculture | 400,000 tonnes | La Libertad, Lambayeque, Lima | Exporters, agribusiness |
| Quinoa | Agriculture | 200,000 tonnes | Puno, Cusco, Ancash | Food markets, export (superfoods) |
| Sugarcane | Agriculture | 30,000,000 tonnes | La Libertad, Lambayeque, Piura | Sugar mills, ethanol, rum production |
| Cotton | Agriculture | 70,000 tonnes | Piura, Lambayeque, La Libertad | Textile industry, local mills |
| Brazil nut | Forest | 35,000 tonnes | Madre de Dios, Amazonas, Ucayali | Harvesters, exporters, cooperatives |
| Mahogany timber | Forest | 50,000 m3 | Madre de Dios, Ucayali | Timber markets (legal/illegal), exporters |
| Natural rubber | Forest | 20,000 tonnes | Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios | Latex production, smallholders |
| Guano (bird/bat fertilizer) | Biodiversity | 100,000 tonnes | Guano islands, coastal caves | Fertilizer producers, agriculture |
| Coca leaf | Agriculture | 40,000 tonnes | Cusco, Apurímac, Huánuco | Traditional uses, legal industry |
| Freshwater (renewable runoff) | Water | 1,800 km3/year (approx) | Amazon basin, Andes rivers | Drinking water, irrigation, hydropower |
| Timber (mixed species) | Forest | 200,000 m3 | Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios | Sawmills, construction, furniture |
| Seaweed | Fisheries | 10,000 tonnes | Northern coast, Piura | Food, cosmetics, fertilizer |
| Annatto (achiote) | Agriculture | 5,000 tonnes | San Martín, Loreto | Food colorant, spice markets |
| Macadamia | Agriculture | 8,000 tonnes | Piura, Lima | Export (nuts), processors |
| Cedar timber | Forest | 30,000 m3 | Amazon fringe, Loreto, Ucayali | Construction, furniture, local markets |
Images and Descriptions
Copper
Peru is one of the world’s top copper producers; large porphyry deposits drive high-volume mining by major companies. Copper exports fund infrastructure and government revenue and concentrate in southern highland and coastal regions.
Gold
Gold mining—both large-scale and artisanal—provides export earnings and local jobs. Peru is a top global gold producer with mines in the Andes and some controversial small-scale operations in the Amazon.
Silver
Peru ranks among the world leaders in silver production. Silver is recovered as a primary and byproduct metal from polymetallic Andean mines and is important for exports and industrial uses.
Zinc
Zinc is a major base metal from Peru’s polymetallic mines, used in galvanizing and alloys. Large deposits in the central Andes supply domestic smelters and export markets.
Lead
Lead is produced alongside zinc at polymetallic mines and used in batteries and industrial applications. Production supports smelting and export industries despite environmental concerns.
Tin
Peru produces tin from highland and Amazonian deposits; it’s used in solder and alloys. Production includes formal and artisanal miners and contributes to export diversity.
Molybdenum
Molybdenum is mainly a byproduct of copper porphyry mines, used in steel alloying and high-temperature applications, adding value to Peru’s large copper industry.
Iron ore
Peru’s coastal iron ore deposits (Marcona) supply steelmakers domestically and abroad. Iron ore mining is concentrated on the southern coast and bolsters heavy-industry exports.
Phosphate rock
Phosphate deposits near the coast are processed for fertilizer and support Peru’s agriculture and export markets, important for domestic crop production.
Coal
Peruvian coal is modestly produced for local power generation and industry. Coal mining is limited compared to hydrocarbons but serves regional energy needs.
Crude oil
Peru produces moderate volumes of crude from Amazon and northern fields. Oil supports domestic refining, fuels transport, and is a strategic energy resource though output has declined from historic highs.
Natural gas
Camisea is Peru’s largest gas field supplying domestic power, industry and some LNG exports. Natural gas underpins electricity and industrial energy and regional development.
Hydropower
Peru’s rivers provide substantial hydropower used for national electricity generation. Large Andean and Amazon basin plants supply domestic grids and support mining and industry.
Anchoveta
Anchoveta fisheries are the world’s largest single-species fishery by volume, mainly processed into fishmeal and fish oil for animal feed and aquaculture, crucial to coastal economies.
Fishmeal
Peru is the top global fishmeal producer, converting anchoveta catches into animal feed ingredients. Fishmeal exports are a major foreign-exchange earner concentrated in coastal ports.
Tuna
Peruvian tuna fisheries and fleets supply canned and frozen exports. Tuna supports coastal employment and is a significant seafood export product.
Squid (Jibia)
Squid is a high-value fishery harvested off Peru’s coasts, exported frozen. Species like Humboldt squid are commercially important and regionally variable.
Mackerel
Peruvian mackerel supports local consumption and processing. Catch volumes fluctuate with ocean conditions but remain a staple coastal fishery.
Scallops (aquaculture)
Seafood aquaculture—especially scallops—has expanded in coastal bays. Farmed scallops are an export product and provide jobs in coastal communities.
Potatoes
Potatoes originate in Peru and remain culturally and economically vital. Thousands of native varieties support local diets, seed systems, and smallholder livelihoods.
Maize
Maize is a staple crop used for food, poultry feed and industry. Production is spread across coastal and highland regions, supporting rural economies.
Rice
Rice is a key staple in Peru with irrigated coastal production and Amazonian paddy systems, supplying domestic markets and some exports.
Coffee
Peru’s highland coffee—often organic and grown by smallholders—is a significant agricultural export with social value in Andean regions.
Cocoa (cacao)
Peruvian cacao, including flavor-rich varieties, is grown mainly in the Amazon and sold to premium chocolate makers, supporting rural incomes.
Asparagus
Peru is a leading exporter of fresh and processed asparagus. Coastal irrigated agriculture supplies international markets and generates significant export revenues.
Grapes
Table grape production for export and domestic wine grapes are concentrated in coastal valleys; viticulture and fresh-fruit exports are important foreign-exchange earners.
Avocado (Hass)
Peru’s avocado industry has grown rapidly for export markets. Hass production in coastal valleys links smallholders and plantations to global demand.
Quinoa
Quinoa—an Andean grain with global demand—provides income to highland farmers and cultural value, with exports supporting rural livelihoods.
Sugarcane
Sugarcane is a large-volume crop used for sugar, alcohol and byproducts. Coastal plantations and mills support agro-industry and rural employment.
Cotton
Cotton cultivation for domestic textiles and export markets is concentrated in irrigated coastal valleys, supporting local agro-industry.
Brazil nut
Brazil nuts are a high-value non-timber forest product harvested from Amazonian forests, central to indigenous and community incomes and sustainable forest use.
Mahogany timber
Tropical hardwood mahogany exists in Peruvian Amazon forests. Logging has economic value but also causes environmental and governance challenges including illegal harvesting.
Natural rubber
Peru’s rubber (natural latex) is produced in Amazonian areas by smallholders and processing facilities; it’s used in industrial and local products.
Guano (bird/bat fertilizer)
Peruvian guano—from coastal islands and caves—has historic and present value as a natural fertilizer. It supports organic and conventional agriculture and island conservation.
Coca leaf
Coca is cultivated legally in some regions for traditional and industrial uses (chewing, medicinal, flavoring) and is also the source material for illicit drugs, making it socially sensitive.
Freshwater (renewable runoff)
Peru’s abundant rivers and Amazon runoff provide freshwater for drinking, irrigation and energy. Water resources sustain biodiversity, agriculture and hydropower but face management challenges.
Timber (mixed species)
Peruvian Amazon supplies various timber species via legal and illegal supply chains. Timber supports local economies but requires sustainable forest management to avoid deforestation.
Seaweed
Peru produces limited seaweed varieties for domestic use and niche exports in food and cosmetics. Coastal farms and wild harvests contribute to marine livelihoods.
Annatto (achiote)
Annatto seeds are harvested for natural food coloring and spice markets; smallholder production occurs in Amazonian and transitional zones.
Macadamia
Macadamia cultivation has grown in coastal valleys as a high-value tree nut crop for export markets, diversifying agricultural incomes.
Cedar timber
Cedar species are logged for timber and furniture. Sustainable management is a concern as demand can drive illegal extraction in remote forests.
