The Chilean farmed salmon industry continues to rebound from the infectious salmon anemia (ISA) virus crisis that affected it from 2007 to 2010. The trade association SalmonChile anticipates farmed salmon exports this year will surpass those of 2011, which totaled 385,325 metric tons (MT). Last year’s exports were 30 percent higher than 2010’s and represented 64 percent of the total amount harvested (439,456 MT).
The majority of Chilean salmon exports are sold frozen (74.38 percent), while 24.54 percent of exports are fresh. The largest market for Chilean salmon was Japan, with 45 percent of exports, followed by the United States in a distant second at 18 percent and Brazil at 12 percent. SalmonChile is explicitly targeting exports to Brazil to diversify its markets and shield itself from the risks entailed with depending on any single market.
Fresh fillet prices have dropped from USD $5.10 per pound in 2010, to USD 4.90 per pound in 2011 and USD 3.70 per pound in July. However, producers believe decreased prices should be resolved in the short term. Margins are expected to be consolidated and no major variations are expected.
No new outbreaks of ISA have been reported since December 2010 and the industry expects to return to 2006 levels of production this year or next. The industry also highlights that while improved site sanitary management has increased costs, this has been more than offset by lower mortality, better growth and improved parasite control and medication use.
