New high for Chilean Atlantics
The composition of the product mix of the Chilean salmon industry had remained almost unchanged in the past two decades, with about 55-60 per cent of Atlantic salmon and the remaining 40-45 per cent split in similar numbers between rainbow trout and coho salmon. The previous highest record for this species was registered in 2005, when the local exports of salmonids were composed by 62.8 per cent of Atlantic salmon, 16.7 per cent of coho salmon, 20.0 per cent of rainbow trout, and 0.5 per cent of king salmon.
Allegedly, the commercial advantages (higher price and market acceptance) of Atlantic salmon have turned that species in the most preferred when farming, despite those years of the so-called ‘ISA crisis’ when the Chilean waters were almost depleted of Atlantic salmon. For example, in 2010 this species only represented 27.1 per cent of the local exports while rainbow trout represented 47.6 per cent.
However, things have started changing in recent years since rainbow trout has lost some ground due to sanitary problems -especially with the bacterial disease SRS, and cohos are still very dependable on the summer season and the Japanese market. This situation has resulted in more Atlantic salmon, both in farms and being exported.
Chilean companies have exported 189,150 tonnes of Atlantic salmon, worth US$ 1.3 billion, in the first six months of 2015 according to figures published by the Association of the Chilean Salmon Industry (SalmonChile). In terms of volumes and values these represented 67 and 70 per cent of the country’s salmon exports up to June 2015, respectively.
Meanwhile, coho salmon represented 22 per cent and rainbow trout 12 per cent in terms of volume, as well as 17 and 13 per cent in terms of returns, respectively.
Chile has exported 282,735 tonnes of salmon and trout products in the first half of this year, worth US$ 1.8 billion.
