November 2024: The First Shipment of Chilean Salmon Exported to Australia

After several months of preparation and defining the necessary protocols by the relevant authorities, the first shipment of Chilean salmon bound for the Australian market was dispatched this Monday.

This shipment consists of refrigerated fresh salmon fillets exported by two prominent Chilean companies. This milestone represents the beginning of exports to Australia, opening new opportunities to showcase the quality and excellence of Chilean production abroad.

To achieve this significant milestone, a thorough and rigorous audit process was conducted under the leadership of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca) with valuable support from ProChile. This process verified compliance with the stringent requirements of the Australian market regarding sanitary controls and product safety for export.

In late September, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) officially recognized Chile for exporting processed salmon to Australia. DAFF designated Sernapesca as the competent authority authorized to issue health and safety certifications.

Soledad Tapia Almonacid, National Director of Sernapesca, highlighted the importance of this milestone for Chile. “After an extensive auditing process of Sernapesca’s inspection, control, and certification systems throughout the salmon value chain, successfully completing the first export to Australia represents strong support for the industry and the work of our service,” she stated.

Natalia Arcos, International Director of ProChile, emphasized, “This milestone is crucial for salmon exports, as it opens the doors to a market of over 26 million inhabitants. This presents significant potential for positioning our products, diversifying export destinations, and creating new opportunities for Chilean companies in the sector.”

Cristian Rodríguez, Regional Secretary of Economy for the Metropolitan Region, stressed, “This is the first shipment of fresh salmon we are sending to Australia, a market previously unavailable to Chile for this type of product. This opens opportunities for more companies to export to this attractive market, increasing investments, job creation, and global economic dynamism.”

Mario Aguilera, Corporate Manager of Logistics and Commercial Operations at Camanchaca, expressed pride in participating in this milestone. “We hope this marks the beginning of many shipments to Australia, demonstrating Chile’s ability to meet the demands of the most stringent markets with a sustainable product and healthy protein,” he noted.

Raimundo Nogueira, Product Manager at AquaChile, added, “This first shipment to Australia is crucial because we believe it’s a significant market where we can introduce not just Atlantic salmon but also Pacific salmon. We are delighted to achieve this milestone and have the logistics infrastructure available at the airport.”

Claudio Torres, Commercial Director for South America at LATAM Cargo, which leads Chilean salmon exports with 49% of shipments this year (over 79,000 tons), stated, “Today, we celebrate a historic milestone for Chile’s aquaculture industry: the first fresh salmon shipment to Australia. LATAM Cargo Group is committed to providing specialized solutions for our clients. This accomplishment is a testament to that commitment. We will continue working to create opportunities for our clients and expand the reach of Chilean salmon worldwide.”

Currently, Chile exports frozen and fresh salmon to 76 countries, with major destinations including the United States, Brazil, Russia, China, and the European Union. In 2023, salmon exports exceeded USD 6 billion, with figures reaching USD 4.1 billion so far this year.

Australia is now among the destinations for Chilean hydrobiological products. Notable exports to Australia in 2023 included 2,760 tons of fish oils and 758 tons of frozen bivalve mollusks