January 20, 2026

Salmon sector in Chile records US$6.55 billion worth of exports last year

Chile's salmon industry registered exports of US$6.55 billion in 2025 – a 3% increase from 2024, according to SalmonChile's Quarterly Export Bulletin, which referenced information from the country's Central Bank.

The bulletin stated that the sector accounted for 6% of Chile's total exports and salmonids were the country's second-most exported product behind copper. Additionally, it found that four salmon-farming firms accounted for 50% of Chilean salmon exports last year, while the top 10 firms in the nation accounted for 78% of exports.

During this period, Atlantic salmon represented 72% of exports, coho represented 23%, and trout made up 5%. The top exported format of salmon was fresh Atlantic salmon fillets, comprising 25% of the goods sent abroad, followed by frozen Atlantic salmon fillet at 18%, fresh whole Atlantic salmon at 16%, and frozen headed/gutted coho at 14%.

SalmonChile also presented information from Chile's National Customs Office, which currently has figures from January through November 2025. During this 11-month time frame, Chile exported 982,840 metric tons (MT) whole fish equivalent (WFE) of salmonids, which was up 14% from the same period in 2024. The main species exported was Atlantic salmon at 657,139 MT WFE, followed by coho salmon at 271,584 MT WFE, and trout at 54,117 MT WFE.

The United States consolidated its position as the main market for Chilean salmon, buying up 40 % of exports by value, followed by Japan at 17 % and Brazil at 13 %.

The US bought 357,035 MT WFE of salmon products totaling US$2.4 billion – a 6 % increase by volume and 1 % spike by value. Meanwhile, Japan received 197,793 MT WFE of Chilean salmonid exports, which was up 2% year-over-year, worth US$1.04 billion, marking 11 % growth by value.

Shipments to Brazil experienced mixed results in 2025, with exports by volume increasing 2 % year-over-year to 134,054 MT WFE but the value of those shipments falling 6% to US$796 million, reflecting greater price pressure on whole fresh Atlantic salmon – the preferred format in Brazil.

Elsewhere, salmon exports to Russia grew 43% by value, reaching US$287 million and 39 % by volume to 45,486 MT WFE, largely driven by shipments of whole frozen Atlantic salmon. Chile also increased the volume of salmonids exported to China by 2% to 39,329 MT WFE but saw an 8% drop by value to US$230 million, reflecting price adjustments and changes in format demand.

 Stakeholders within Chile's salmon-farming industry have been calling for the nation's government to more clearly define its stance on the future of the aquaculture sector, seeking a countrywide vision to better compete with Norway.

The current lack of a unified plan for aquaculture in Chile has been a source of consternation in the industry, but salmon-farming stakeholders in the country – including companies, associations, government authorities, industry workers, and academia – have begun working on a 50-year plan to help drive sector development.

- SeafoodSource