September 6, 2023

Chile's salmon and trout exports show modest growth in first half of 2023

In its latest Quarterly Salmon Export Report, the Chilean Salmon Council has announced a slight, yet notable, increase in exports of farmed salmon and trout during the first half of 2023 in comparison to the corresponding period in 2022, SeafoodSource reported.

Chile's export of salmon and trout collectively reached 373,734 metric tonnes (MT) in the first half of 2023, marking a 2% rise compared to the same period last year. The total value of these exports amounted to US$3.31 billion, reflecting a 2% increase.

The Chilean Salmon Council represents prominent salmon-farming firms, including AquaChile, Australis, Cermaq, Mowi, and Salmones Aysen, which collectively contribute over half of Chile's salmon production. The report draws upon data from Chile's Central Bank and the National Customs Service.

Loreto Seguel, executive director of the Salmon Council, said that they see an industry that is expanding but at very moderate levels, and in a competitive world, those that do not advance fall behind.

Chile's salmon production primarily takes place in the southern regions of Los Lagos, Aysen, and Magallanes. It serves as a substantial source of employment and stands as the nation's second-largest export sector, trailing only the mining industry. According to the council's calculations, salmon represented 15.5% of Chile's total non-mining exports by value in the first half of the year. This performance slightly outperformed the average of 14.9% observed from 2017 to 2022.

Despite this growth, the industry has not yet reached the export levels recorded in the first half of 2020 when Chile dispatched 381,735 MT of salmon and trout to international markets.

-      SeafoodSource