Salmon exports generated US$2.915 billion in revenue for Chile in 2011, 48 percent more than in 2010, according to Customs figures.
Japan was the main destination of shipments of Chilean salmon and trout in 2011. In second place was the United States, with shipments worth US$704 million, 58 percent more than in 2010. Latin America accounted for US$414 million, while the EU accounted for US$113 million. Excluding Japan, shipments to Asia totalled US$300 million last year, a 96 percent increase compared to 2010.
The total exports in 2011 exceeded the level reached in the best years of the industry: 2007, when exports amounted to US$2.241 billion, and 2008, when they reached USD2.392 billion. The InfoTrade report states that the average price for Chilean salmonids reached in different markets increased by 8.7 percent, from US$6.93 in 2010, to US$7.59 in 2011.
"2011, in particular, was the year of recovery," said Carlos Odebret, general manager of the Chilean salmon industry association SalmonChile. "The fish stocked in 2009 are those that were harvested last year. In general, the fall in volume in 2010 and the first half of 2011 made the global price increase. Therefore, the returns on exports also rose. However, the trend shifted from the second half of 2011 and prices moved upward again. That's why the leap was much higher with respect to 2010."
FIS