Freshness and flavor from the waters of the Pacific Ocean, with certified quality and sustainability, are some of the attributes that have led Chile to have world leadership in seafood products, in categories such as fresh salmon fillets, mussels (choritos), as well as world fame for its diversity of fish and seafood.
For ProChile, the seafood export sector is one of its priorities, which has led the country to be classified as a world class supplier. It is worth noting that during the first quarter of 2024, shipments of salmon and trout from the Los Lagos region reached US$ 1,556 million, followed by mussels (cholgas, choritos and choros), with US$ 63 million.
In order to be aware of the current moment that this export subsector is going through, Seafood Chile met with Ricardo Arriagada, regional director of ProChile Los Lagos. For the executive, who already has experience in promoting food and the southern export matrix of our country, "support and promotion of seafood products is strategic, as it is closely linked to regional development, both in employment and economic growth. Therefore, it has been a very relevant area for the institution in recent years. We are interested in continuing to diversify and increase our" exports of this type of products
- Currently, in which areas are the initiatives for promoting Chilean seafood products focusing?
“In this last time, the effort we have been making is focused not only on keeping current importers, but also on looking for new ones. For example, in the United States, we are opening up the participation of new markets, not only on the East and West coasts, but also in the interior states of that country. The same with China, not only being in Beijing and Shanghai, but also addressing other cities, like Brazil, where we are making a great effort in support of the Salmon sectoral brand of Chile.”
- And in a 2024 special, where ProChile turns 50 What is sought as an institution?
“One of ProChile’s major objectives, in its 50 years, is to increase and diversify the Chilean export supply. And it is products from the sea that has given us excellent results, so we want to continue to enhance it. To do this, there is an agenda with a number of promotional activities. Among them, the Encuentro Latam Mexico, which will be at the end of June in Guadalajara and Mexico City, where exporters of products from the sea of the region will attend. In addition, in November we will have a very powerful meeting, as it will be Enexpro Products of the Seathrough which we will bring more than 30 buyers of this type of products to the region.”
- What is the status of the region's sectoral brands of seafood?
“We are working on the continuity of Salmón de Chile, to position itself in Brazil. And we are in the process of presenting a new sectoral brand by AmiChile, with new markets in folder. That’s going very well.”
- What is the relevance of exporters of seafood in lto the Lakes region?
In our portfolio, we have about 120 companies. And in terms of amounts, 90% of exports from this region correspond to sea products. However, we have a great challenge, which is to improve the aspect of aquaculture suppliers, where we are still with few exporting companies.
- How do you visualize the spread of seafood products? Is it necessary to continue to enhance that aspect?
“It is always necessary to realize how we are moving forward in this matter. In general, when you talk about products from the Chilean sea, there is a very good image in terms of price-quality ratio, in addition to the country brand, which says a lot. In that sense, promoting is more than necessary, as it is the only way to be on the radar of companies that want to develop businesses and are growing. If we don't do it ourselves, they'll be coming from other markets and they can take away our opportunity.”
