2025 Peru Cocoa Butter (HS 180400) Export: Volatility Spike

Key Takeaways

Cocoa Butter, classified under HS Code 180400 (Cocoa butter, fat and oil), exhibited high volatility from January to November 2025.

• Market Pulse: Export volumes swung sharply, peaking at 4.42M kg in October before collapsing 62.7% in November, while unit prices dropped from $25.36/kg to $13.47/kg.
• Structural Shift: Peru Cocoa Butter Export relies heavily on the U.S. (37% of value) and a few key buyers (94.54% of value), creating concentration risk.
• Product Logic: HS Code 180400 trade data shows 56% of exports fall under sub-code 1804001200, with unit prices ranging from $17.23 to $21.16/kg, suggesting grade-based pricing tiers.

This overview covers the period from January to November 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Peru Cocoa Butter (HS Code 180400) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Peru Cocoa Butter Export trend from January to November 2025 shows a volatile trajectory, with export volumes swinging sharply month-to-month. After a strong start at 4.14M kg in January, volumes plunged nearly 50% in February before rebounding in March. The mid-year period saw consistent growth, peaking at 4.42M kg in October, but collapsed by 62.7% in November to just 1.65M kg.

Drivers & Industry Context

The mid-year export surge aligns with the EU's August 2025 implementation of updated rules of origin under the EU-Colombia-Peru-Ecuador trade agreement [Taxation & Customs Union], which may have prompted accelerated shipments to lock in preferential terms. The November volume crash suggests either demand saturation in key markets like the U.S. (which consistently accounted for 30-46% of exports per yTrade data) or inventory adjustments by buyers. The declining unit price—from $25.36/kg in March to $13.47/kg in November—reflects either increased global supply competition or margin compression, directly impacting the hs code 180400 value realized by Peruvian exporters.

Table: Peru Cocoa Butter Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Peru HS Code 180400 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

The dominant sub-code for Peru's HS Code 180400 export is 1804001200, capturing over half of the weight and value shares. According to yTrade data, this sub-code represents 56% of total export weight and 52% of export value from January to November 2025. The remaining Peru HS Code 180400 export volume is distributed among three other sub-codes with similar product descriptions but incrementally higher unit prices.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

Unit prices range from 17.23 to 21.16 USD per kilogram, indicating possible grade or quality variations within this cocoa butter trade structure. This is primarily a commodity market with price sensitivity, but the price spread suggests some specialization that could be leveraged for margin improvement. Exporters should prioritize cost control while exploring opportunities in higher-value segments of HS Code 180400 breakdown.

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Peru Cocoa Butter Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Peru's cocoa butter exports throughout 2025 show extreme concentration, with the United States accounting for 37% of total value. This single-market dependency creates significant risk for Peruvian exporters, as any U.S. demand shift or trade policy change would immediately impact the entire sector. The top three Peru Cocoa Butter export destinations—the U.S., Germany, and Argentina—collectively represent over two-thirds of the trade value, indicating a lack of market diversification.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

The U.S. market shows a nearly perfect alignment between value share (37.00%) and weight share (37.14%), indicating a commodity-style market with consistent pricing. The lower shipment frequency ratio (29.44%) versus volume confirms bulk, industrial-scale purchases rather than fragmented retail demand. This profile suggests Peru's trade partners for Cocoa Butter are primarily large-scale processors seeking volume scale, not artisanal buyers offering margin potential.

Table: Peru Cocoa Butter (HS Code 180400) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Peru Cocoa Butter Buyer Companies Analysis

Buyer Concentration & Market Structure

According to yTrade data, the market for Peru Cocoa Butter buyers is overwhelmingly dominated by a core group of high-volume, repeat customers. This segment accounts for 94.54% of the total export value, indicating a market built on stable, contract-based supply chains with major industrial consumers. Representative companies like ENSINCRO SRL and ARCOR SAIC are indicative of this anchor clientele that drives consistent demand.

Purchasing Behavior & Sales Strategy

The purchasing patterns reveal a market reliant on a few key accounts, which presents a significant concentration risk for Peruvian exporters. The sales strategy must therefore focus on deep relationship management and supply chain integration to protect these accounts from competitive poaching. For HS Code 180400 buyer trends, this means prioritizing contract stability and logistical reliability over pursuing new, smaller spot traders.

Table: Peru Cocoa Butter (HS Code 180400) Top Buyers List (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Cocoa Butter Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify buyer base: Reduce reliance on the U.S. and top clients by targeting emerging markets like Asia to mitigate concentration risk.
• Lock in contracts: Secure long-term agreements with anchor clients like ENSINCRO SRL to stabilize demand amid volatile monthly swings.
• Optimize logistics: Focus on bulk shipping efficiencies for the dominant 1804001200 sub-code to offset margin compression from falling unit prices.
• Explore premium segments: Test higher-value sub-codes within HS Code 180400 to capitalize on the $21.16/kg price tier.
• Monitor trade policy: Track EU rules of origin updates to time shipments for preferential tariff advantages.

Take Action Now —— Explore Peru Cocoa Butter HS Code 180400 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Peru Cocoa Butter Export in 2025?

The volatility in Peru's cocoa butter exports is driven by shifting trade policies (e.g., EU rule updates) and demand fluctuations, with volumes dropping 62.7% in November after a mid-year surge. Declining unit prices (from $25.36/kg to $13.47/kg) reflect global supply competition or margin compression.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Peru Cocoa Butter (HS Code 180400) in 2025?

The U.S. dominates with 37% of export value, followed by Germany and Argentina—the top three markets collectively account for over two-thirds of Peru’s cocoa butter trade.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Peru Cocoa Butter Export in 2025?

Price variations (17.23–21.16 USD/kg) stem from sub-code specialization within HS Code 180400, where 1804001200 represents 52% of export value but coexists with higher-priced grades.

Q4. What should exporters in Peru focus on in the current Cocoa Butter export market?

Exporters must prioritize contract stability with anchor clients (94.54% of value) and diversify away from U.S. dependency while exploring higher-value sub-codes for margin improvement.

Q5. What does this Peru Cocoa Butter export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

Buyers benefit from stable, bulk-scale supply chains but face concentration risks; U.S. and EU industrial buyers can leverage consistent commodity pricing and preferential trade terms.

Q6. How is Cocoa Butter typically used in this trade flow?

Peru’s exports primarily serve large-scale food processors and industrial manufacturers, evidenced by bulk shipments to repeat buyers like ENSINCRO SRL and ARCOR SAIC.

Detailed Monthly and Quarterly Report

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