► PeruTrade surplus stood at US$669 million in Nov 2019

Peru's trade balance recorded a US$669 million surplus in November 2019 —the second-highest figure of the year— the Central Reserve Bank (BCR) has reported.

► PERU Non Traditional exports up 7.6% in Nov 2019 

"Thus, it has accumulated a US$4.855 billion trade surplus in the first eleven months of 2019," the BCR stressed.

► PERU Country risk at 107 basis points

It must be noted exports totaled US$3.904 billion in November 2019.

"In said month, traditional exports reached US$2.670 billion, while non-traditional ones amounted to US$1.224 billion. These last figures experienced a 7.6% increase over the same month last year, mainly due to greater foreign sales of farming and fishery products," the Central Reserve Bank explained.

► Peru exports to Canada total US$2.321 billion in Jan-Nov 2019, 153%

Furthermore, it affirmed that imports totaled US$3.235 billion in November last year.

"In that month, purchases of inputs and consumption goods decreased, whereas capital goods acquisitions increased," the issuing entity pointed out.

► Light vehicle sales up 40.65% in Dec 2019

Sales of light vehicles —including cars, open-bed trucks, pickups, vans, station wagons, SUVs, and off-road vehicles— amounted to 14,397 units in December 2019, up 40.65% compared to the same month in 2018, the Automotive Association of Peru (AAP) reported on Tuesday.

Moreover, the December result is the best monthly growth since July 2012.

December sales resulted in a total of 151,997 sold light vehicles in 2019, a 2.42% increase over 2018, when sales declined by 9.32%.

"A result that puts the sector in the positive path and helps renew the vehicle fleet that is 13 years old on average," AAP highlighted.

The association stated that the recovery in sales of new vehicles in 2019 began to take shape in the middle of the year, when the rate of evolution turned upward after dropping consecutively for several months.

AAP explained that one of the important factors that influenced the positive behavior was the reduction of selective excise taxes on a certain vehicle segment.

Likewise, an improved performance of various economic indicators was observed during the second half of the year.🚗🚗