Los Lagos, Chile’s main salmon producing region, exported $2.6-billion worth of salmon in the first half of 2022 – up 33 percent over the same period last year – but export volumes were down 1.6 percent, according to the latest figures from the country’s National Statistics Institute.
The United States accounted for 46 percent of the export value. Volume-wise, exports to the US increased nearly 7 percent. The more-pronounced 38 percent growth in terms of value reflects the reopening of the food service sector post-pandemic and the strong salmon prices.
Rounding up the Top 3 markets of the Los Lagos region are Japan, which accounted for 19 percent of salmon exports, and Brazil, which accounted for about 8 percent.
The value of exports to these two markets increased by 10 percent and 32 percent, respectively, while in terms of volume, exports to Japan fell by almost 12 percent, whereas those to Brazil went down by 10.
More than 65 percent of the more-than 70,000 jobs in Chile’s salmon-farming industry are concentrated in the Los Lagos Region.
