Peru’s trade surplus narrowed in August as copper, gold and coffee prices declined and imports rose to a record.

The country had a trade surplus of $48 million in August, compared with a $1.27 billion surplus a year earlier and a revised $16 million surplus the previous month, the country’s statistics agency said in an e-mailed report today.

Exports dropped 20 percent to $3.71 billion from the same month of 2011, the steepest decline this year, the agency said. Imports rose 9.3 percent to $3.66 billion, led by capital goods for the mining and energy industry, fuel, televisions and cars.

To contact the reporter on this story: John Quigley in Lima at jquigley8@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Joshua Goodman at jgoodman19@bloomberg.net