Chile exported USD 1.8 billion in seafood products to the Asian market in 2011. This figure represents 47.7% of USD 3.9 million of total shipments to the world.
The major Asian markets that concentrate the Chilean seafood supply are Japan, with a 35% share, China with 3%, Thailand and South Korea with 2% each. Shipments include salmon, trout, mussels, cuttlefish, seabass, hake, mackerel, crabs, sea urchins.
If algae, its byproducts, fish oil and fish meal are included, exports to the Asian market reach USD 2.3 billion, covering over 50% of total Chilean sea products bexports.
"Total shipments of seafood to China exceeded USD 391 million in 2011, up 24% compared to 2010 when it reached USD 314 million. And in the first half of 2012, exports of seafood to China reached USD 142 million," says Gonzalo Matamala, Trade Commissioner of Chile in China.
Chile is among the major powers of the world's fishery industry. Its production is destined to more than one hundred international markets, which has allowed Chile to become the second largest producer of salmon after Norway, with total exports in 2011 that reached USD 2.926 billion, equivalent to 385 thousand tons.
In recent years, the Chilean fisheries and aquaculture industry have carried out extensive work which has led to show a marked recovery. The solid institutional foundations and favorable regulations, coupled with the natural advantages such as long coastlines, water purity and highly nutritious food of the depths of the Pacific Ocean, have enabled high levels of production and an important international position.
Between 2005 and 2011 the total trade between Chile and China reached USD 120.1 billion, making China the largest trading partner of Chile, and Chile's second largest trading partner of China in the region.
In 2011, Chilean exports to China reached USD 18.6 billion, representing an increase of 9.8% compared to 2010. Moreover, Chile's imports from China reached USD 11.2 billion, with a variation of 35% in the same period.