Xifres de comerç exterior de Xile

Foreign Trade in Figures

Chile has a very open economy, highly dependent on international trade, which represents around 61% of its GDP (latest data available). In 2023, the country mainly exported copper (which accounted for 44.9% of exports), salmon and trouts (6.7%) lithium (6.5%), cellulose (2.8%), molybdenum ores and concentrates, and cherries (2.4% each). Imports were led by mineral fuels and lubricants (20.5%), machinery, devices, and parts (18.5%), transport equipment and parts (11.4%), and food (9.% - data Chilean Customs). In the same year, Chile recorded 8,258 exporting companies, the highest in nine years, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Among them, 4,926 exported manufactured goods, 1,725 shipped agricultural products, and 1,056 provided services abroad. Other key sectors were forestry (480 companies), wine (418), fishing and aquaculture (337), and minerals (252).

Chile's 2023 top exporting partners were China (38.2%), the United States (15.9%), Japan (6.9%), South Korea (6.2%), Brazil (4.5%), and Peru (2%); whereas imports came chiefly from China (22.4%), the United States (20.2%), Brazil (11.0%), Argentina (7.1%), Germany (3.5%), and Japan (2.8% - data Chilean Customs). In 2023, 92.8% of Chile's non-traditional exports went to markets with trade agreements. These exports reached 188 destinations, with growth recorded in 99 of them. Chile has signed Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with several important economies, notably the European Union, the United States, China, and South Korea and is a member of the Pacific Alliance since 2012 with Mexico, Colombia and Peru. Its comparative economic advantages (revenue from mining, competitive and counter-seasonal agriculture sector) have given it access to the large markets of North America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific (and recently to other South American countries, especially Brazil). Chile also signed an association agreement with the UK, ensuring continued trade relations.

Chile's trade balance has been fluctuating in recent years. According to WTO data, in 2023, Chile exported USD 94.9 million worth of goods, while its imports stood at USD 85.5 million. Exports and imports of services in the same year amounted to USD 9.8 million and USD 19.5 million, respectively. In the same year, the World Bank estimated the country’s trade balance to be positive by 1.3% of GDP (from -4% one year earlier). According to the latest report from the Central Bank, in 2024, Chile's exports reached USD 100.163 billion, a 5.9% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by record exports of copper concentrates, forest products, fresh fruit, and organic foods. The mining sector led exports with USD 52.280 billion (+9.5%), notably in copper concentrates, copper cathodes, and gold shipments.