Chile exported nearly US$5,300 million worth of seafood between January and August, a period in which Chilean food products reached 171 markets worldwide.
According to figures from ProChile, based on records of National Customs Service, the value of Chilean food sent to all over the world in the first eight months of the year reached US$ 14,536 million, an increase of 3.6% compared to the same period of the previous year.
In this increase, fruits such as cherries played an important role, which in the summer recorded an export record of almost US$ 2 billion, 26.4% more than in 2023; or grapes, which by August had total exports of US$ 931 million, a growth of 17% compared to the same period of the previous year. Apples, meanwhile, increased their exports by 10% to US$ 471 million; blueberries recorded US$ 403 million in exports, with an increase of 21.2%; and plums increased their shipments by 40.6%, reaching US$ 308 million.
Similarly, meat exports increased by 6.6% compared to the first eight months of the previous year, totaling US$ 913 million, mainly driven by an increase of almost 26% in the shipments of poultry meat, which reached US$ 285 million.
"Food is the main export sector of Chile outside of mining, and it is a very relevant ambassador for our country in international markets," said the General Director of ProChile, Ignacio Fernández. "Thanks to public-private work to detect and open opportunities in different markets, and also to the work carried out by various companies in areas such as sustainability and innovation, our country has earned a" prestige as a provider of healthy, safe and sustainable food," he added.
Between January and August, the value exported in food from Chile increased in all major destination markets. The United States was the first importer, with US$ 3.628 million, 0.3% more than in the same period of the previous year. China followed, with US$ 2.822 million, an increase of 11.4%; and Brazil with US$ 1.088 million, which corresponds to an increase of 23.1%.
It also increased the value of food exports to Japan (US$ 1,073 million, 7.5% increase), Mexico (US$ 516 million, 23.1% more), Spain (US$ 371 million, 16% increase) and South Korea (US$ 356 million, 6.6% more than in the same period of 2023), among other markets.
"Our country has privileged conditions to produce a wide variety of foods, and we want to keep pushing these figures," added Fernández, who this month was in the first Chile Summit India, organized by ProChile to promote Chilean food and other exports in the most populous country in the world.
He explained that ProChile prepares a series of international promotion bodies for the sector. Between 30 September and 4 October, the first Chile Week Brazil, which includes a food export meeting in Sao Paulo, where Chilean companies will be able to participate in a business conference with importers from that country.
Chile will also be present at the SIAL in Paris, between 19 and 23 October, one of the most important international fairs for the food sector, with more than 40 companies presenting their products at different stands.
And finally, between 2 and 8 December, the IX Chile Week China, where a public-private delegation will tour five cities in the country to promote Chilean exports, including those in the food sector.
Credit images: ProChile.
