Shipments to China, Brazil, India and Thailand set a record in 2024, according to ProChile's export report.
These results show the results of public and private efforts to diversify the destinations of non-traditional Chilean shipments and the result of the promotional actions carried out by our country in recent years.
China: Main Export Destination
Non-copper, non-lithium exports to China reached a record in 2024, with US$ 9,113 million, a growth of 5.1% compared to 2023, when they reached US$ 8,669 million. Similar figures have not been recorded since 2007, the year used for the analysis.
The Asian giant accounted for 20.54% of domestic non-copper, non-lithium shipments last year, making it the second largest destination for this type of exports, and positioning itself as the leading destination for products such as cherries, fresh and dehydrated plums, fresh peaches and nectarines, bottled Cabernet Sauvignon red wine, seaweed and beef.
It is worth noting that last year ProChile carried out a series of activities in China, including the ninth version of Chile Week, which visited 4 cities: Beijing, Hangzhou, Chengdu and Guangzhou, with a delegation of 25 companies.
Also during the year, promotional activities were carried out for pisco, wines and in October, managed by ProChile thanks to the support of the private sector, a delegation of senior Chinese executives from the Freshippo retail chain visited Chile and closed an agreement with Chilean companies to import Chilean products directly.
Another milestone in 2024 was the record in non-copper, non-lithium shipments to Brazil, with US$2,888 million, 8.6% more than in 2023, which positioned this South American destination as the third for this type of exports. The previous record was 2022 with US$ 2,868 million.
Salmon and trout, organic chemical products and fresh apples were the main shipments in 2024. Brazil was also the leading market for Chilean wine, with exports of US$ 205 million and growth of 17.3% over the previous year.
ProChile in 2024 held for the first time in that market a Chile Week, a week-long event with activities in both Sao Paulo and Belo Horizonte, with the participation of more than 40 companies from the agribusiness & food sector and companies providing services and global solutions for sectors such as mining and energy. In total, Chile Week in Brazil had a business projection of more than US$ 18 million.
"While China and Brazil have always been two of the main destinations for Chilean exports, the fact that they are markets that will reach record shipments in 2024 shows us that we are doing things right, but also encourages us to continue generating other spaces for our shipments, such as opening more doors in the interior of both countries, as we see room to further diversify our exports," says the Director General of ProChile, Ignacio Fernandez.
India and its export growth
In this ranking of destinations that reached a record in the reception of Chilean non-copper, non-lithium shipments, India stands out, a market that in 2024 reached US$ 779 million, an increase of 38% over 2023, and the highest figure since 2007. The previous highest figure, but quite far from what was achieved in 2024, was US$ 566 million in 2023.
India has been growing steadily since 2007, with significant jumps in 2018 with US$ 336 million - surpassing US$ 300 million for the first time - and then 2023, surpassing US$ 566 million, to reach US$ 778 million in 2024.
Here fresh fruits such as apples and kiwis, but also services experienced significant increases in their shipments in 2024, driven by the greater knowledge that this country is having of Chile, also the result of public and private trade actions that have been carried out in recent years.
In 2024, ProChile, in a tour led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alberto van Klaveren, carried out more than 20 trade and country promotion activities at the Chile Summit India event, which was also attended by the Minister of Agriculture, Esteban Valenzuela, more than 10 private sector associations and the CEO of ProChile, Ignacio Fernandez. This event ranged from promotion of the agri-food supply to the Creative Economy, specifically the audiovisual sector to the Bollywood industry.
"The fact that India, with more than 1.4 billion inhabitants and a rising middle class, is today one of the most dynamic markets for Chilean exports with such positive figures that we had in 2024, endorses the importance of continuing to strengthen promotional actions. That is why this year we will carry out a new business meeting, which will take place within the framework of the visit of the President of the Republic and whose objective is to visit the cities of New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai", says Fernández.
He adds that "we see this country as a great opportunity for food, but also for other sectors such as Creative Economy -where we want India to use Chile as a location for its films- or services related to the agricultural or mining industry".
Thailand and the ASEAN Market Expansion
Also in Asia, Thailand also reached record figures in the reception of Chilean non-copper, non-lithium shipments. In 2024, national exports of this type reached US$ 311 million, an 8% increase over 2023. This is the highest figure since 2007, where non-copper non-lithium shipments to this ASEAN country reached US$ 108 million, with milestones in 2018 when they surpassed the US$ 245 million barrier, with sustained growth from 2021 to date.
Here, foodstuffs such as salmon, cherries, cuttlefish and mussels, among others, were the protagonists of shipments in 2024. Chile seeks to position itself, both in Thailand and in other markets of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) with more products and also opening possibilities for services. To this end, ProChile has programmed a high-impact event consisting of a Business Meeting for September of this year.
Read the original article here
Other related news
