Peru’s exports of essential oils, cosmetics, and surfactants reached US$89 million during the first seven months of 2026, an increase of 6.8% compared with the same period a year earlier. Natural colorants used in cosmetics brought in US$232 million during the same period, making this category about 2.6 times larger. These figures show the growing role of essential oils, natural colorants, and botanical extracts in Peru’s beauty ingredient trade. At the same time, both areas are facing changes linked to ingredient regulations and demand for alternatives to certain colorants.
Essential oils and cosmetics exports
Exports of essential oils, cosmetics, and surfactants reached US$89 million between January and July 2026. The figure was up 6.8% year over year, according to Peru’s Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism.
The wider chemical products category reached US$1.226 billion, an increase of 9.9%. Peru’s total exports reached US$63.521 billion, up 33%. The country recorded its 27th consecutive month of export growth.
Natural colorants used in cosmetics are recorded under agriculture rather than chemicals. They generated US$232 million during the first seven months of 2026.
The results point to a strengthening export offering in international markets. Essential oils, natural colorants, and botanical extracts are among the categories supplying the beauty industry.
What the export figure includes
The US$89 million total for essential oils, cosmetics, and surfactants is recorded as one customs group. The figure therefore does not separate finished beauty products from industrial surfactants or fragrance feedstock.
Across the seven-month period, this category represented 0.14% of Peru’s total export value. Its growth was below the growth recorded by the wider chemical sector and below the 33% national export average.
Other products in the same grouping included organic and inorganic products, which reached US$363 million, up 14.1%. Medicines reached US$53 million, an increase of 5.1%.
China and the US were Peru’s leading export destinations overall, receiving US$24.340 billion and US$5.971 billion, respectively. The EU received US$5.618 billion, up 6.5%.
Peru had 8,305 exporters during the period earlier in 2026, an increase of 3%. Small and medium-sized enterprises accounted for 66% of these exporters.
Natural colorants are a larger export category
Natural colorants are recorded under agricultural exports rather than chemical exports. Exports in this category increased by 2.5% and reached US$232 million, around 2.6 times the value of the entire essential oils, cosmetics, and surfactants category.
A large part of this trade is linked to cochineal carmine. This is a red pigment extracted from the cochineal insect and used in cosmetics such as lipstick, lip gloss, blush, eyeshadow, and nail polish.
Peru supplies between 70% and 80% of global cochineal carmine. In 2025, the country exported US$339.35 million of the ingredient. Denmark, Brazil, and the US were the main destinations, while demand from China was growing by more than 50% a year.
Changing pressure on beauty ingredients
Peru’s beauty-related export categories are facing changes in the market.
European authorities have asked a scientific consumer safety committee to assess cuminaldehyde and p-cymene. These molecules occur naturally in cumin, thyme, and oregano oils. They cannot be removed without removing the oil itself. Opinions on the assessment are expected around April 2027.
Carmine-free formulations are gaining ground in the colorant market. Demand for alternatives to carmine has led to the expansion of vegan pigment options, and biotechnology has been used to produce carminic acid in the laboratory.
Peruvian ingredients reach international formulators
In April 2026, 13 companies from Lima, San Martín, Cusco, and Loreto were taken to an international cosmetics ingredients event in Paris, France. The national pavilion generated approximately US$1.29 million in business. This figure combined sales made at the event with business opportunities projected over 12 months.
The products on display included vegetable oils such as sacha inchi, copaiba, aguaje, and ungurahui. Essential oils included palo santo, palo rosa, and muña. Butters came from murumuru, copoazú, and cacao. Botanical extracts included camu camu, vanilla, and maca.
The export activity comes as buyers increasingly distinguish between natural sourcing and ethical sourcing. Traceable botanical supply chains are gaining commercial importance in the beauty ingredients market.
