During Chilean President Borich's visit to China, a series of agreements and memorandums of understanding were signed between the two countries, officially opening up the export of Chilean chilled silver salmon to China.

Sady Delgado, General Manager of Chilean salmon producer AquaChile, expressed his appreciation for the signing of the agreements: "In the presence of the two heads of state, Chile and China signed a series of agreements that allow Chilean chilled silver salmon to freely enter the Chinese market."

According to Delgado, the Chilean Minister of Economy, the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, the Ministry of Agriculture and the national aquaculture agency Sernapesca have contributed positively to foreign trade in support of Chile's emergence as a major food producer. Chilean chilled silver salmon exports to China, a goal that has been pursued for more than 20 years, were realised during Chile Week 2023.

AquaChile is the world's largest producer of silver salmon, with 2022 production of about 78,000 tonnes.

In the first nine months of this year, China imported 34,469 tonnes of Chilean salmon, up 71% year-on-year, for a value of US$251 million, up 67%.

In the last two years, Chilean producers have eased production pressures caused by periods of outbreaks by significantly boosting silver salmon production and diversifying export markets. In previous years, the majority of Chilean silver salmon was exported to Japan.

On the other hand, however, the main reason for the lower prices of Chilean silver salmon is related to the imbalance between supply and demand. A Chilean industry insider told UCN: "The slow growth rate of Atlantic salmon farming is mainly influenced by environmental policies. Silver salmon farming cycles are shorter and Chilean producers can increase production in large quantities, but the silver salmon market situation is also more complex, with supply far exceeding Japanese demand, so exporters need to go for a split of the silver salmon global market."