aquaculture

The Chilean salmon farming industry is facing a significant blow as the new tariff policy of President Donald Trump is expected to impact Southern Chile with a loss of US$1.050 billion. According to a study by the Universidad San Sebastián and SalmonChile, 42% of Chilean salmon exports are sent to the US, accounting for 55% of the American salmon market. This new tariff could potentially reduce salmon exports by US$571 million, with a further decrease of US$53 million due to slower global growth, totaling a loss of US$623 million in exports.

Meanwhile, in a bid to boost fruit exports to the US, authorities from the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), representatives of the Coquimbo Regional Government, and Frutas de Chile visited the Fresh Fruit Inspection Center in Cabrero, Biobío region. The aim is to replicate the successful model developed in Cabrero that has significantly enhanced fruit exports to the US.

Positive export figures have been reported by ProChile Magallanes. Non-copper and non-lithium exports from the Magallanes region reached US$366 million during the first quarter of 2025, marking a 42.6% growth compared to the same period in the previous year. Despite the complex international trade context, these figures bring optimism and reassurance to many local companies relying on exports.

However, the Chilean dairy exports have seen a downturn, with a drop of 8.3% in the first quarter of 2025. This negative trend reflects unfavorable figures due to decreased demand from key markets such as the United Arab Emirates and Colombia, although this has been partially offset by an increase in markets like Brazil and Peru.

ProChile Los Lagos has reinforced its export agenda with a focus on the aquaculture sector during the 2025 Regional Export Council. The session brought together major guilds from the aquaculture sector, aiming to coordinate public-private actions to boost regional exports. The agenda projects Chile's presence at Expo Osaka 2025, where the "Sea Week" will be celebrated from June 2 to 7.

• El sur de Chile se verá impactado en US$1.050 millones por aranceles a la salmonicultura (Salmonexpert.cl)
• Autoridades visitan sitio de inspección de fruta en Cabrero para replicar modelo en la región - El Ovallino - Pasion por el Limarí (Elovallino.cl)
• ProChile Magallanes: Exportaciones: 42,6%: primer trimestre (Aqua.cl)
• Agricultura en clima extremo: Magallanes busca autoabastecerse e incluso exportar (Prochile.gob.cl)
• Las exportaciones lácteas chilenas caen 8,3% en el primer trimestre - Diario Lechero (Diariolechero.cl)
• ProChile refuerza agenda exportadora con foco acuícola en sesión del Consejo Regional de Los Lagos - RadioSago 94.5 Osorno y 96.5 Puerto Montt (Radiosago.cl)

The Chilean-Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Culture has been closely monitoring the economic developments in Chile. Several key sectors have shown promising growth and potential, which we believe are noteworthy.

OCDE's Economic Forecast

Adolfo Rodríguez-Vargas, the chief economist for Chile at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), has expressed confidence in Chile's export strength. The OECD has adjusted its projections for the Chilean economy, estimating a 2.4% expansion of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year. However, it has also revised its forecasts for 2025 down from 2.5% in May to 2.3%. The changes for this year are due to an upward revision of the expansion of exports and a decrease in imports, while the recomposition of domestic demand would contribute slightly less to activity.

Chile's Third Industry: Aquaculture and Agriculture

The II Symposium "Sciences and Footprints of Agriculture", organized by the Doctorate in Agricultural Sciences of the Catholic University of Chile (UC) with the support of Salmones Antártica, highlighted the potential of creating a third industry in Chile combining aquaculture and agriculture. This initiative is backed by the Technological Program for the Local Production of Nutritional Inputs for Aquaculture (PTEC-INVA), a public-private and academic initiative promoted by the Corporation for the Promotion of Production (Corfo).

Geopolitics, Environmental Regulations, and Mineral Exports

Geopolitics and environmental regulations could potentially impact the exports of minerals from the region. Tanvi Sharma, Senior Research Analyst - Bulk Research, Drewry, highlighted this during the "Shipping Seminar 2024". The market behavior of various commodities relevant to our region, including iron ore and coal, is determined by a complex interplay of causes and effects.

Salmon Exports

ProChile has promising projections for the export of salmon. The Enexpro Sea Products 2024, an initiative that allowed 60 Chilean companies from Coquimbo to Punta Arenas to present themselves, was developed in Puerto Varas.

Corporate Tax Rate Reduction Proposal

The Chilean government's proposal to reduce the corporate tax rate to 25% is a bold strategy to stimulate economic growth and attract foreign direct investment (FDI). However, this measure has also sparked substantial debates about its fiscal, social, and economic impact, necessitating a balanced analysis of the benefits and risks.

Boom in Cherry Exports

There is a significant boom in the export of cherries from Chile to Asia. This surge in demand underlines the potential of Chile's agricultural exports and the opportunities it presents for foreign traders and investors.

• Adolfo Rodríguez-Vargas, economista OCDE: “Las exportaciones van a mantenerse fuertes. El asunto es cuán sólida sea la demanda externa por los minerales que vende Chile” | Diario Financiero (Df.cl)
• Acuicultura más agricultura: La gran oportunidad de crear una tercera industria en Chile - AQUA (Aqua.cl)
• ¿Cómo la geopolítica y las normativas ambientales podrían afectar a las exportaciones de minerales de la región? - MundoMaritimo (Mundomaritimo.cl)
• Las promisorias proyecciones de ProChile para las exportaciones de salmón (Salmonexpert.cl)
• Evaluación de Propuesta de Reducción de la Tasa Impositiva Corporativa al 25% en Chile | Diario El Pulso desde O'Higgins para Chile y el mundo (Diarioelpulso.cl)
• [VIDEO] Boom por las cerezas chilenas: conoce el significado detrás del furor en China por cargamentos (Soychile.cl)

The Chilean Chamber of Commerce and Culture has witnessed a significant increase in various sectors of the nation's exports, particularly in the agricultural, forestry, and aquaculture sectors, as well as in Tarapacá's mineral exports.

The agricultural sector experienced a surge of 8.8% in the first half of the year, with exports totaling US$7.053 billion, representing 31.3% of total foreign sales. This growth is driven by record exports of cherries, plums, and blueberries.

The forestry sector also showed positive performance, with exports reaching US$2.448,8 billion FOB between January and May 2024, a 3.0% increase compared to the same period last year. However, May witnessed a decrease in exports by 23.1% compared to the previous month.

The aquaculture sector continues to demonstrate its importance in the national economy, with salmon leading the exports. The peak export period is between March and September, with two companies managing 80% of the exported tonnage.

Tarapacá's exports reached US$469 million in May 2024, with significant interest shown in developing 24 lithium projects in the region's deposits and salt flats.

Kiwi exports are expected to increase by 10% compared to the previous season, with more than 65% progress in the current season and an estimated volume surpassing last year's total of 126,220 tons.

Meanwhile, in Indonesia, the first Damen CSD600 series cutter suction dredger has begun operations. Named Jhoni 58, it is currently working on a maintenance dredging project at the Port of Batulicin in Kalimantan, primarily used by numerous coal transport barges.

• Las ciruelas y los arándanos se suben al carro de exportaciones récord que lideran las cerezas | Diario Financiero (Df.cl)
• Exportaciones forestales chilenas acumulan desempeño positivo - PortalPortuario (Portalportuario.cl)
• Sector acuícola chileno: El salmón lidera ventas y demanda en Brasil y Estados Unidos - Radio Agricultura (Radioagricultura.cl)
• Exportaciones de Tarapacá alcanzaron los US$469 millones en mayo de 2024 (Radiopaulina.cl)
• Exportaciones de kiwi podrían incrementarse en un 10% en comparación con la temporada anterior - Mundoagro (Mundoagro.cl)
• Indonesia pone en operación la primera draga de la serie Damen CSD600 - PortalPortuario (Portalportuario.cl)