Chile produces a variety of clams, but by far the most common are the Venus antiqua and the Protothaca taca species. Both are harvested exclusively using traditional artisanal methods and for statistical purposes they are classified together under the same category, with fishermen and the authorities making no formal distinctions between them. The country produced 20,359 metric tons (MT) of these varieties in 2011, with 20,028 MT coming from the Los Lagos region in the south. The wholesale price per MT varies considerably, but averaged the equivalent of approximately USD 609 per MT in 2011.
The vast majority of product is harvested from natural clam banks and sold domestically. According to information from the Chilean Central Bank, the country exported 451 MT of canned clams in 2011 at an average price of USD 8,068 per MT. When comparing the second quarter of 2012 with the same period in 2011, one can see that while export amounts fell from 82 MT to 47 MT this year, this was compensated by a year-on-year increase in the price from USD 5,849 to USD 9,333 per MT.
Another clam species produced in Chile is the Tawera Gayi clam, also known as Julienne or baby clam. Chile produced 7,494 MT of this species in 2011, also from natural clam banks, with the majority exported. Approximately USD 3.5 million of the species has been exported so far this year, according to Chilean customs, although landings data is not yet available.
