Peru Implements Additional Import Duty on Whole Milk Powder

The Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF) of Peru has made a significant upd ate to its trade and customs policy tools by implementing a new variable additional duty on imports of basic foodstuffs, including whole milk powder (WMP). This decision was formalized through the publication of Vice-Ministerial Resolution No. 0010-2026-EF/15.01 in the official newspaper, El Peruano.

The upd ated customs framework for the South American dairy export sector, with Argentina and Uruguay as key suppliers within the ALADI bloc, establishes conditions that will directly impact the nationalization costs of the product. The MEF se t the reference price for whole milk powder at USD 3,440 per metric tonne. An additional variable duty of USD 187 per metric tonne has been applied, based on current market quotations.

This additional charge of USD 187 poses an increased cost for local reconstituters and dairy manufacturers who choose to source international powder instead of fresh raw milk from Peru's northern, central, and southern regions, such as Cajamarca, Lima, and Arequipa.

The Vice-Ministerial Resolution also addressed other sensitive agricultural sectors. For instance, the reference price for yellow corn was se t at USD 218 per tonne, resulting in a zero additional duty due to global price alignment within the established band. This allows for smooth revenue flows without extra customs costs for feed factories, crucial for dairy herds and local poultry farming.