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1.4 Who is who in Peruvian foreign trade

An export or import involves State entities, private operators and financial allies. Knowing what each one does saves you from handling paperwork in the wrong place and from delays.

Module 1: International trade today · Reviewed on 20/10/2026 · Español

Goal: Match each procedure or permit with the right agency or operator and build the list of players in a first export.

Many players take part in a foreign trade operation. It helps to group them into three: the State, which sets rules, promotes and controls; the foreign trade operators, which provide services to move the goods; and allies, such as banks, insurers and trade associations. Knowing who does what keeps you from asking for a permit in the wrong place.

MINCETUR (Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism) leads foreign trade policy, negotiates trade agreements and runs the VUCE (Single Window for Foreign Trade), the digital platform where many permits are processed. PROMPERÚ, attached to MINCETUR, promotes exports, tourism and the country's image with fairs, trade missions and market studies. The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) approves tariffs by supreme decree.

SUNAT controls customs: it receives the Customs Goods Declaration (DAM), inspects the goods when required and collects import taxes. On imports it authorizes the release (levante), which is the permit to take the goods out. It also certifies Authorized Economic Operators. Clearance is covered in depth in the Customs: legal framework, regimes and clearance course.

Each product has its own authority. SENASA oversees plant and animal health and issues phytosanitary and zoosanitary certificates. SANIPES does this for fishing and aquaculture, and DIGESA for processed foods and beverages; DIGEMID handles medicines. INDECOPI registers trademarks and patents and reviews dumping complaints. The National Port Authority (APN) regulates ports.

On the private side, the customs broker (customs agent) generally processes your DAM with SUNAT. The international freight forwarder organizes the transport and books the space. The shipping line or airline moves the cargo, and the shipping agent represents it at the port. Terminals and warehouses receive and safeguard it. These services are covered in depth in the Customs and International logistics courses.

Banks finance and collect, insurers cover the cargo, inspection companies verify quality, and trade associations and chambers of commerce give you information and representation. A special case is the AEO (Authorized Economic Operator): a SUNAT certification for reliable companies in the logistics chain, which aims for safer and faster trade.

Key ideas

The State sets rules, promotes and controls: MINCETUR, PROMPERÚ, MEF and SUNAT have different roles.
Each product has its own authority: SENASA (plants and animals), SANIPES (fishing), DIGESA (processed foods) and DIGEMID (medicines).
The VUCE is the digital window where many foreign trade permits are processed.
The customs broker processes the DAM; the freight forwarder organizes the transport. They do not do the same thing.
The AEO is a SUNAT certification for reliable operators, with mutual recognition with several countries.
In 2024 Peru had a record 9,771 exporters; between January and August 2025, 67% were MSMEs.

Who	What it does	When you need it
MINCETUR	Foreign trade policy, trade agreements and VUCE.	To find out which agreements and procedures apply to you.
PROMPERÚ	Export promotion, tourism and country image.	For fairs, trade missions and market studies.
SUNAT	Customs control and taxes; certifies the AEO.	Whenever your goods cross the border.
SENASA, SANIPES, DIGESA, DIGEMID	Health and technical authorities depending on the product.	If you export plants, animals, fish, processed foods or medicines.
INDECOPI	Trademarks, patents and trade defense (dumping and subsidies).	To protect your brand or if there are dumping complaints.
Customs broker	Processes the DAM with SUNAT.	In every export or import.
International freight forwarder	Organizes transport and books space.	To move your cargo and quote freight.
Port terminal and warehouse	Receives and safeguards the cargo.	When the goods come in or go out.
Banks and insurers	Finance, collect and insure the cargo.	To get paid by the buyer and protect the shipment.

Worked example

Who does what in a first mango export

Frutas del Chira S.A.C. (a fictional company from Piura) wants to sell a container of fresh mango to a buyer in the Netherlands. Before quoting, it makes a list of players so it does not forget any procedure.
Information and market: it asks PROMPERÚ and MINCETUR which trade agreement applies to its product and what requirements the destination asks for. It also asks about fairs where it can meet more buyers.
Health: mango is a fresh plant product, so it falls under SENASA. The company checks that its packing plant is authorized and applies for the export phytosanitary certificate.
Transport: it asks two international freight forwarders for quotes for a refrigerated container. Each one includes the booking with the shipping line, transport to the port and delivery to the terminal.
Customs: it hires a customs broker, who registers the export DAM with SUNAT using the invoice, the phytosanitary certificate and the shipment data.
Port: the container enters the port terminal within the shipping line's deadlines. If SUNAT inspects it, this is coordinated at the terminal.
Money and risk: it asks its bank for the payment terms agreed with the buyer and considers cargo insurance according to the Incoterms® rule it agreed (you will see this in module 4).

Result: A single operation involves at least six players (PROMPERÚ or MINCETUR, SENASA, freight forwarder, customs broker, SUNAT and terminal), plus the bank and the insurer. Having the list before you quote avoids delays and costs from forgotten procedures.

Real cases

Record number of exporters in 2024 and 768,747 operations in the VUCE

2024

In its executive summary supporting the 2026 budget before Congress, MINCETUR reported that 2024 had a record 9,771 exporters, and that between January and August 2025 more than 8,000 were registered, 67% of them MSMEs. It also reported that the VUCE carried out 768,747 operations in 2024. It matters because it shows that exporting is no longer only for big companies and that many procedures go through a digital window.

If you are an MSME, you are not alone: most exporters are. Start by getting to know the VUCE and the support services from MINCETUR and PROMPERÚ.

Source: MINCETUR – Resumen ejecutivo para la sustentación del proyecto de presupuesto 2026 ante el Congreso de la República

SUNAT signs nine mutual recognition agreements for the AEO

2022

SUNAT's AEO Program certifies foreign trade companies as reliable operators. Its official page lists nine mutual recognition agreements (MRAs): South Korea (14/12/2017), Uruguay (14/03/2018), Pacific Alliance (21/07/2018), United States (12/09/2018), Andean Community (24/05/2019), Brazil (02/10/2020), Guatemala (01/10/2021), a regional MRA of 11 countries (18/05/2022) and Canada (22/06/2022). It matters because these agreements let customs authorities recognize the other country's certification.

If you export often, consider getting AEO certification: mutual recognition can extend your benefits to the customs authorities of other countries.

Source: SUNAT – Programa OEA: Acuerdos de Reconocimiento Mutuo (ARM)

Common mistakes

Believing that the customs broker and the freight forwarder do the same thing. The first processes the DAM with SUNAT; the second organizes the transport and the space booking.
Going to a single entity for all permits. Each product depends on its health or technical authority (SENASA, SANIPES, DIGESA, DIGEMID) and many procedures start in the VUCE.
Leaving everything in third parties' hands without checking what is declared. The DAM information describes your goods; review it before it is registered.
Confusing promotion with control. PROMPERÚ helps you sell; SUNAT controls the goods and collects taxes.

Practise with the calculators, the COMEX Simulator and the review questions on the main page.

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