Chilean Exports Surge 19% from January to August: 62% of Growth Driven by Markets Beyond Top Trade Partners

Original article: Exportaciones chilenas crecieron 19% entre enero y agosto: 62% del alza responde a mercados distintos de sus dos principales socios comerciales

Chilean exports continued their impressive performance in the period from January to August 2026, accumulating returns of US$ 83.252 billion, according to the latest Monthly Foreign Trade Report from the Undersecretariat of International Economic Relations, based on data from the Central Bank of Chile and the National Customs Service.

The data reveals a 19.1% increase (+US$ 13.368 billion), marking the first time exports surpassed US$ 80 billion in the January-August period, with record highs in both mining and non-mining shipments.

Notably, of the additional US$ 13.368 billion exported during this period, 62% went to destinations other than China and the United States, with markets such as India emerging strongly, doubling its imports to US$ 4.254 billion, driven by copper, gold, iodine, walnuts, fresh apples, seeds, and lithium hydroxide.

Japan (+22.5%) and South Korea (+39.1%) also stood out, along with Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Bolivia, Peru, Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

Overall, it is observed that 97.1% of exported goods went to economies with which Chile has active trade agreements. China remained the leading market, accounting for US$ 27.997 billion (33.6% of the total), followed by the United States with US$ 13.971 billion (16.8%). Both recorded their highest export levels in at least two decades.

When analyzing destinations by trade blocs, the CPTPP leads with 14.96% of shipments, followed by the European Union (10.23%), Mercosur (4.9%), and the Pacific Alliance (3.2%).

Recovery in Fruit and Wine Sectors

During the period, mining accounted for 62.6% of the shipments valued at US$ 52.130 billion, marking a 27.6% increase (+US$ 11.289 billion).

Although copper showed a 3.2% decrease in August, the cumulative year figures remained positive, totaling US$ 43.275 billion, which represents a 19.3% increase compared to the first eight months of the previous year.

Lithium, on the other hand, nearly tripled its returns, reaching US$ 4.332 billion, while gold doubled its exports to US$ 3.172 billion.

Meanwhile, non-mining exports reached a record US$ 31.123 billion, an increase of 7.2% (+US$ 2.079 billion), accounting for 37.4% of national exports.

Within this group, the food industry hit a new high for the period with US$ 9.457 billion (+3.6%), driven by salmonids, frozen raspberries, and the recovery of horse mackerel.

The metalworking, machinery, and equipment sectors also experienced strong growth (+15.2%), as did seeds (+10.4%).

This performance was complemented by a recent recovery in two sectors that had been posting declines throughout the year. Fruit exports grew 18.1% in August, completing three consecutive months of expansion, with increased shipments of hazelnuts, kiwis, apples, pears, avocados, and clementines.

Meanwhile, bottled wine achieved its highest monthly record in August 2026 (US$ 128 million), reflecting a year-on-year increase of 16.5%.

Service exports also hit a historic high, totaling US$ 2.413 billion with a growth of 16% (+US$ 332 million), led by aircraft maintenance and repair services, as well as digital and business management services.

Check out an advance of the complete report HERE