Between January and March 2026, USD 1.99 billion (FOB) was exported, representing an annual growth of 8%.
Salmon exports performed well in the first quarter, achieving their best performance in at least two decades, largely due to operational efficiency, according to Pulso.
The Chilean Central Bank’s figures show that, in the first three months of 2026, salmon and trout sales reached USD1.99 billion (FOB), representing an 8% increase compared to the same period the previous year.
During the quarter, Chile’s total exports worldwide amounted to USD 30 billion (FOB), meaning salmon and trout exports accounted for an unprecedented 7% of national trade.
The fourth quarter of last year was previously the highest, with shipments of the two products totaling USD 1.856 billion (FOB). The preceding quarter was significantly lower at USD 1.430 billion (FOB). Thus, the export volume of these products has also increased during the period analyzed.
According to public data from the Chilean National Customs Service, while 218,000 tons of salmon and trout were shipped in the first quarter of 2025, the figure for the same period this year was up 19% to 260,000 tons.
The Salmon Council’s report on the matter states, «From an operational perspective, growth was consistent throughout the quarter, with increases each month compared to 2025. This performance does not reflect an expansion of production capacity, which remains structurally limited. Rather, it is a result of improvements in operational efficiency, process optimization, and more effective management of available biomass, which have increased export volumes within the industry’s current margins.»
Looking at global shipments, the markets to which salmon was exported saw significant volume growth. Notably, the Salmon Council reports that trade volume with the United States grew by 19%.
According to the Chilean Central Bank, the value of “fresh, chilled, or frozen salmonid” exports to the United States increased by 6%, from USD 655 million in the first quarter of 2025 to USD 695 million in the first quarter of 2026.
Export volume to Brazil expanded by 22%, while Japan grew by a moderate 2%. Both countries imported USD 653 million (FOB) in the first quarter of 2026.
The volume China imported from Chile, however, saw the sharpest increase, soaring 156%. The Salmon Council notes that the figure «reflects an industry that is constantly exploring and opening new markets and is capable of positioning its products in highly competitive and geographically remote destinations.»
Furthermore, «the expansion in China highlights both specific business opportunities and the sector’s capacity to adapt to shifts in global demand. This reinforces that Chilean salmon remains in demand worldwide, with a growing number of destinations.»
The executive president of the Salmon Council, Loreto Seguel, analyzed this favorable period. «It reflects an industry that is regaining momentum but doing so from a position of structural strength—through its ability to adapt and operate more effectively.»
The industry leader observed that «the growth is not driven by expanded production, but by more efficient management of installed capacity. Process optimization has enabled increased export volumes.»
Seguel noted that the industry has adopted an active market diversification strategy, reflecting a sector that is connected to global dynamics and can respond nimbly to changing international scenarios.
«Chilean salmon is a strategic sector for the country, whose short-term growth is tied to internal improvements and thus has a ceiling. Chile requires a state policy, regulatory improvements, expansion, and a long-term vision to achieve the goal of being number one worldwide,» concluded the former president of the Arica Port Authority.
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