From January through October Chile’s salmon and trout exports increased 30% relative to the same period one year earlier. Sales for the period amounted to US$795m and the volume shipped surpassed 158,000 tons. Gains in salmon sales were offset by a 23.5% loss in the value of Chile’s fish powder exports. Salmones Multiexport is the sales leader with a 7.2% market share and exports valued at US$57m from January through October. Other important players include Pacifico Sur with exports valued at US$56.9m for the period and Nutreco with exports of US$54m. The strongest export market for Chile’s salmon is the US, and free trade negotiations now underway should further boost North American sales over the next few years.
By Steve Lewis, just-food.com correspondent
