SEG15: Chile announces increased seafood exports to Europe

Chile's seafood exports to Europe are up 17 percent, according to Heraldo Muñoz, Minister of Foreign Affairs. Muñoz opened the ProChile pavilion at Seafood Expo Global on 21 April in Brussels, Belgium, along with Carlos Appelgren Balbontin, Chilean Ambassador in Belgium and Andrés Rebolledo, General Director of International Economic Relations at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

“Europe is a market of vital importance for the Chilean fishing and fish farming industry,” said Muñoz. Chile is considered a trusted supplier of seafood worldwide with products produced by both its fishing and aquaculture sectors.

“Overseas buyers of Chilean food appreciate the economic and political stability of Chile, which incentivizes entrepreneurship, and recognize that its modern infrastructure and export logistics, state-of-the-art technology used in production and processing, rigorous compliance with international standards and certifications, and an extensive network of free trade agreements, all help to make our country a reliable supplier of high quality safe food,” said Muñoz.

Chile is a leading exporter of trout, salmon and mussels. It is the second largest supplier of farmed Atlantic salmon. Fifty five percent of all seafood shipments to Europe are salmon and trout, with mussels accounting for 12 percent and fish oil for 8 percent.

In 2014, total shipments of Chilean seafood amounted to USD 6.16 billion, an increase of 17 percent compared to 2013, when exports reached a total of USD 5.28 billion. Japan, the United States and Brazil were the main markets. Seafood exports to Europe amounted to USD 1.17 billion, 19 percent of total Chilean seafood exports.

Rebolledo predicts European demand for Chilean seafood will increase in the next few years. “Chile’s innovative seafood industry supplies high quality, safe products, based on excellent environmental and sanitary conditions. Our processors have adapted their offering to take account of the growing demand for healthy products and convenience foods, incorporating formats such as portioned, boneless, fat-free and nutritious options, along with products of higher added-value.”

“Both Europe and Chile appreciate bilateral trade and are currently discussing an update of the Free Trade Agreement, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2013 The companies present at the Chilean pavilion at Seafood Expo Global 2015 offer the best choice of seafood at a competitive price for highly demanding markets, including the established European market and emerging markets such as Brazil, China, India and Russia.”

 

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