brics

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Culture has been closely monitoring the recent developments in international trade and commerce. In this regard, we are pleased to share some of the significant events that have unfolded this week.

Firstly, Indonesia has fortified its alliance within BRICS, an international bloc comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Following an official request during Russia's presidency, Indonesia was granted membership earlier this year. This week, Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, Serguéi Ryabkov, conducted an official visit to Indonesia, discussing further cooperation within the BRICS framework. Both parties acknowledged the progress made in the institutional development of BRICS, particularly under Russia's presidency in 2024.

Meanwhile, in the United States, President Donald Trump announced his plans to impose new tariffs on several countries next week. This move aims to balance the duties applied to US exports, sparking uncertainties about a possible trade war.

Despite these global trade tensions, Chile's export sector has shown resilience. Interestingly, the United States is not Chile's top trading partner, with exports exceeding $37 billion. This information was revealed in a recent report by the National Customs Service, dispelling concerns about the impact of Trump's proposed economic measures on Latin American countries.

Chilean exports have started 2025 positively, with a 10.4% annual increase in January, according to the Central Bank. Total exports amounted to $10.431 billion, while imports also grew by 8.3%. The export sector's strong performance was largely driven by the mining industry.

Furthermore, Chile's foreign trade began the year with record amounts and an increase in the value of copper shipments. The Central Bank reported the performance of exports, imports, and copper shipments, the country's star product, in January.

Lastly, Chilean fruits are seeking to enhance their presence and growth at Fruit Logistica 2025. Despite Europe being the fourth destination market for Chilean fresh fruits, the last seasons have shown significant recovery, with an increase of over 10% last year and almost 15% this season, with more than 135,000 tons exported to various European markets compared to the same period last year.

• Rusia e Indonesia refuerzan su alianza en BRICS (Elciudadano.com)
• Trump anunciará nuevos aranceles a varios países | 24horas (24horas.cl)
• No es Estados Unidos: este el principal socio comercial de Chile con exportaciones superiores a $37.000 millones de dólares – En Cancha (Encancha.cl)
• Las exportaciones chilenas parten el 2025 al alza de la mano de la minería | Diario Financiero (Df.cl)
• Comercio exterior de Chile comienza el año con montos récords y alza en el valor de los envíos de cobre (Redimin.cl)
• Frutas chilenas buscan potenciar su presencia y crecimiento en Fruit Logistica 2025 (Prochile.gob.cl)