Best-ever Q1 export earnings for Chilean salmon farmers
Chile’s salmonid industry has recorded the best first quarter in its history in terms of the value of its exports.
According to information prepared by the Central Bank of Chile, salmon and trout exports between January and March 2019 were worth US$1,585 million, a 6.1% increase compared to $1,494m for the same period of 2018.
In the last 10 years, the returns of Chilean salmon farmers have doubled amid high prices for salmon, said the bank.
Price rises
Arturo Clément, president of industry body SalmonChile, attributed the export earnings record to the fact that prices have risen significantly, mainly in markets such as the US, Brazil and China.
Exports of Atlantic and coho salmon combined were worth $1,468m in the first three months of this year, an increase of 6.7% compared to the same period last year, when exports earned $1,36m.
The situation was different for trout. During January-March 2019, were worth $117m, a decrease of 6.4% compared to $125m for the same period of 2018.
