Chile's Q1 coho exports set new record

The volume of coho salmon expected by Chile in the first three months of this year was 88,482 tonnes, a record high for a first quarter.

It is the second year in succession that Chile’s exports of coho exceeded 85,000 tonnes in Q1. Exports are up by nearly 35% since Q1 2023, when the country exported 65,861 tonnes of coho.

“We are practically the only significant producer of this species globally, which gives us a unique competitive advantage,” said Loreto Seguel, executive president of the Salmon Council, a body representing several large salmon producers.

“Furthermore, coho salmon has proven to be a highly valued product in Asian markets, especially in Japan, where it is the main species imported from Chile.”

Atlantic salmon

Atlantic salmon remains Chile’s most exported salmon species, but in the first quarter of this year it recorded its lowest volume since 2017, at 119,784 tonnes, representing a 9.1% drop compared to the same period in 2024.

In total, the value of salmonid exports in Q1 was US $1.847 billion, a 5.1% increase compared to the same period last year, explained by price volatility in the international economy. The volume of salmonid exports was 218,355 tonnes, a 2.8% drop from the Q1 record set in 2024 of 224,726 tons, according to information from the National Customs Service.

The three main markets for Chilean salmonids - the United States, Japan, and Brazil - slightly decreased in volume compared to the previous quarter, although they maintained their relative weight in the matrix of markets to which salmonids are exported.

But the export volume to Russia increased by 46.5% to nearly 13,000 tonnes, a level not seen since 2021.