July 29, 2013

Chile's salmon exports up 22% in Jan-Jun 2013

In the first six months of 2013, Chile exported salmon and trout for US$1,298 million, an amount that represents a 22% increase over the same period of 2012, according to the National Customs Service of Chile (Customs).

In general, the aquaculture-fishing sector contributed 0.4 percentage points to the growth of non-mining exports for the period, which together generated US$1,983 million.

During the first six months, total aquaculture-fishing industry shipments meant an increase of 3% compared to shipments of the sector in the same period of 2012, when it reported revenues of US$1,925 million.

Out of the total of US$1,983 million exported during the first half of 2013, 66% was from salmon shipments, which totalled US$233 million more compared to the same semester of 2012.

The main markets for Chilean salmon were the US, with a participation of 38%, Japan with 17% and Brazil with 16%.

Trout shipments represented 20% of the non-mining sector's exports. However, the sales of this product showed a decrease of 27%, totalling US$396.1 million in the first six months of the year (US$145 million less than in the same period of 2012).

Japan was the main destination for trout exports, with a participation of 57% in the amount exported. It was followed by Russia with 16%, the US with 10%, and Brazil with 2%.