Chilean salmon farmer Salmones Austral has launched direct operations in Asia with the inauguration of its new commercial office in Tokyo, under the name of “Japón Austral” which means Southern Japan in Spanish.
“The creation of this office will allow us to be closer to our clients to achieve better communication, understanding, and collaboration,” Salmones Austral Commercial Manager Juan Francisco Zanolli said in a release. “Salmones Austral will be able to learn more about the needs of the Asian market and continue its path of growth and consolidation in the industry as a benchmark for quality, technical capabilities, and development of challenging and innovative projects.”
The company said the move will ensure a more efficient supply chain and a timely response for the demanding Asian market. The new office’s main objective is to coordinate and expand the company’s business throughout the continent, with the exception of China.
The business launch, held on 19 May in Tokyo, brought together important clients from the region, Chilean commercial attachés, and Salmones Austral’s senior executives, consolidating a strategic milestone in the firm's internationalization plan.
Japón Austral will be led by a team with a long history in international seafood trade, including Hiroshi Hamaya who will assume as CEO and Marco Patricio Morante who will lead commercial management as a director.
Salmones Austral was established in 2013 following the merger of Trusal and Pacific Star. It now has annual production of around 52,000 MT – 63 percent of which corresponds to Atlantic salmon and the remaining 37 percent to coho – and has exported to more than 20 countries. The U.S. and Asia are the main markets for Atlantic salmon, while Japan is the primary destination for its coho.
The vertically integrated company has more than 1,900 workers operating in two processing plants and 20 freshwater and seawater farming centers in the regions of Maule, Biobío, La Araucanía, Los Lagos, and Aysén.
