Chile exported 366,000 tons of salmon in January-June 2022, down 3.49% year on year, export value was $3.233 billion, up 30.51% year on year, according to the latest data released by Chilean Customs, Servicio Nacional de Aduanas. Chile exported 10,692 tonnes of salmon to the Chinese mainland during the period, up 84 % year on year, and $78 million, up 141 % year on year.
 
Worldwide, the United States is the number one destination for Chilean salmon shipments, with 128,076 tonnes of salmon salmon, up 4 % and $1.480 billion, up 37.9 %, according to the Chilean website Salmonexpert. Japan (73,962 tonnes, -11%; $524 million, +1.76%), Brazil (61,513 tons, -6%; $429 million, +39.49%) followed closely.
 
Ricardo Arriagada, regional director of ProChile, the Chilean national general export promotion agency, said salmon exports had returned to pre-pandemic levels. "Chilean salmon exports to key strategic markets such as the US, Brazil and mainland China have all grown by more than 35% year on year. Because these are big markets, every growth point means a lot of money."
 
In his view, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the outbreak of conflict between Russia and Ukraine have made the market for Chilean salmon exports more diverse. In the first six months, for example, Chilean salmon export value to Canada (volume up 18% and value up 57.94%), Colombia (volume down 12% and value up 36.81%) and South Korea (volume down 348% and value up 569.13%) all increased year on year.