Chilean salmon and trout export earnings
top $6bn
Returns nearly a third higher than in first 11 months of 2021
The value of salmon and trout exported from Chile in the first 11 months of this year topped US $6 billion and was nearly 30% higher than in the same period last year, according to data from the National Customs Service.
The South American country exported 683,000 tonnes of salmonid products worth $6.039 bn between January and November, which is a 4.2% volume increase and 29.2% increase in returns compared to that period in 2021, when Chile exported 655,000 tonnes worth $4.676 bn.
Chile, which produces more salmon than any other country except Norway, exported 72,000 tonnes of salmonids worth $659 m in November. It earned more money for fewer fish than in October, when the country made $616 m on an export volume of 79,000 tonnes.
US demand
The United States is Chilean fish farming’s biggest customer. As of October this year, 231,729 tonnes of salmonid products worth $2.639 bn had been shipped to the US. Export value and volume were 27% and 5% higher respectively than in the same period in 2021, when Chile exported 220,037 tonnes of salmon and trout worth $2.086 bn to the US.
Japan is also a core market. Chile sent 141,205 tonnes of salmonids worth 1.060 bn to Japan in the first 10 months of this year, compared to 139,499 tonnes at a value of $901 m in the same period last year.
Brazil bought 110,917 tonnes of salmonid products worth $732 m in the first 11 months of 2022, a 19% increase in value but a 6% decrease in volume compared to the $613 m earned on 117,398 tonnes exported to Brazil in the same period in 2021.
Recovery in China
China showed the most dramatic year-on-year change, with a 78% increase in volume and 108% rise in returns. Chile exported 24,464 tonnes of salmonids worth $181 m to China in the first 11 months.
Mexico has maintained constant growth, receiving 16,510 tonnes worth $182 m, increases of 14% and 45% in volume and value respectively compared to those made in the same period of 2021.
Chile has also maintained growth in other export markets. These include Taiwan (128% increase in returns and 48% in shipments); Thailand (79% growth in value and 25% in volume); Canada (59% increase in returns and 25% in shipments) and Colombia (26% growth in value and 6% drop in volume).
The salmonid sector exported 30,925 tonnes of products worth $242 m to Russia between January and November, a 31% reduction in volume and 4% drop in returns compared to the same period of 2021, before Russia invaded Ukraine.
