Sales to Japan mitigate lower exports to USA
According to the local newspaper El Llanquihue, until 2008, USA was the main market for Chilean salmon, basically for Atlantic salmon, worth close to USD 800 million. Back then, Japan was in the second position, importing Chilean salmonids worth USD 716 million, but mainly Coho salmon.
However, in the first nine months of 2009 both markets ranking was reversed, and according to figures submitted by the National Customs Service, Chilean exports to USA decreased 24% due to the ISA virus outbreaks’ effects.
Although Coho salmon exports to Japan did not increase in the period -and even decreased 9% in volume- they have been favored by bigger prices as a consequence of the decreased wild fishing captures for that market.
