gabriel boric

The Indo-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and Culture presents a summary of the important news events of the week.

Chilean President, Gabriel Boric, during an official visit from the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, addressed the trade war initiated by Donald Trump and its potential effects on Chile's copper and agricultural exports. President Boric outlined the discussions he has had with various international leaders and the measures taken by the Chilean Government to anticipate possible economic impacts. The President emphasized the delicacy of the issue and reaffirmed Chile's commitment to multilateralism in international forums, rejecting unilateral decisions.

In other news, Chilean bottled wine exports have started 2025 on a high note, with an increase of 9.2% in volume and 6% in value compared to January 2024. The majority of our main markets started well this year, led by Brazil with an increase of almost 30% in volume and 20% in value compared to January 2024. Japan, the United Kingdom, South Korea, Canada, the Netherlands, and Mexico also recorded significant increases this month. The notable exception is China, which continues to decline, this time by -16% in value compared to January of the previous year.

US tariffs on seafood imports may offer short-term gains for Norway and Chile's salmon exports, but they are bad news in the long term, warns a seafood market analyst from Kontali. A 25% tariff is expected to be imposed on Canadian and Mexican seafood products, and a similar tariff is anticipated for some imports from the EU.

Chile has been recognized as the South American and Latin American country that contributed the most cargo flow to the Panama Canal in the fiscal year 2024. It also ranked fifth in the hierarchy of nations by origin and destination, according to the Panama Canal Authority's Annual Report 2024.

However, the US President's tariff measures on agricultural products could slow the growth of exchange sectors in Chile. This announcement has caused concern in Chile's productive sector. Additionally, the 2024/2025 season of Chilean cherries closed with a negative balance, leaving estimated losses of more than US$1.6 billion for producers and exporters. The main destination for Chilean cherries, China, saw prices plummet due to a 60% increase in volumes sent, causing values to fall by 50% compared to the previous season.

• Presidente Boric aborda guerra comercial y revela medidas ante aranceles de EE.UU. (Radioagricultura.cl)
• Exportaciones de vino embotellado chileno, comienzan con el pie derecho este 2025. China, es la excepción, tras reportar un descenso de -16% | Publimicro (Publimicro.cl)
• Aranceles estadounidenses a productos del mar pueden beneficiar al salmón chileno (Salmonexpert.cl)
• Chile el país sudamericano que más flujo de carga contribuye al Canal de Panamá – Diario Chañarcillo (Chanarcillo.cl)
• conomista planteó que medidas de Trump pueden frenar el crecimiento de sectores de intercambio en Chile | Diario Usach (Diariousach.cl)
• Pérdidas de US$1.600 millones golpean al mercado de las cerezas chilenas (Sancarlosonline.cl)

The Indo-Chilean Chamber of Commerce and Culture is pleased to report on the promising developments in Chile's agricultural export sector, with a particular focus on the cherry and wine industries.

Chilean Cherry Exports Set to Soar

The 2024-25 season begins with high expectations for Chilean cherry exports, projecting a 59% increase from the previous year. The "Cherry Blossom" event in Chimbarongo, led by Claudia Soler, executive director of the Chilean Fruit Committee, announced plans to export a record 131,587,007 boxes of cherries, equivalent to 657,935 tonnes. This volume represents 27% of all fresh fruit exported by Chile. The event was attended by key figures including the Chinese Ambassador, Niu Qingbao, and the Minister of Agriculture, Ignacia Fernandez, both of whom highlighted the public-private collaboration in the sector.

Challenges in the Wine Industry

Despite the growth in volume of wine exports, the industry faces challenges with stagnant prices. The August 2024 report indicates a 7.7% increase in bottled wine shipments compared to the same month in 2023, but the value of the exports remained virtually unchanged, at a total of USD 119.7 million. The average price fell by 6.6%, standing at USD 30.2 per box.

China and the US Remain Key Export Markets

The Office of Agricultural Studies and Policies (Odepa) reported a 10% increase in forestry and agricultural exports from January to September, reaching USD 15.215 billion. The main destinations for these exports were China (31%), the US (21%), Japan (4%), Mexico (4%), the Netherlands (4%), South Korea (4%), Brazil (4%), and Colombia (2%).

Meeting with President Gabriel Boric

Frutas de Chile held a meeting with President Gabriel Boric at La Moneda Palace to discuss matters aimed at boosting the development of the country's fruit sector, including the need to modernize and deepen the export agenda at an intersectoral level.

• Chile proyecta crecimiento récord en exportación de cerezas para la temporada 2024-25 | Publimicro (Publimicro.cl)
• Ojo con el vino: Exportaciones crecen en volumen, pero enfrentan desafíos de precio (Eltipografo.cl)
• China y EEUU siguen siendo los principales destinos de las exportaciones forestales y agropecuarias de Chile - El Periodista (Elperiodista.cl)
• Chile marcará un récord en cerezas: Proyectan un aumento del 59% en exportaciones (Eltipografo.cl)
• Estiman que exportaciones de cereza aumentarán un 59%: China es el principal destino | Radios Regionales (Radiosregionales.cl)
• Frutas de Chile se reúne con Presidente Gabriel Boric para reforzar agenda exportadora del país - PortalPortuario (Portalportuario.cl)