Foods from Chile, source of life

Chile is located in South America. It is bordered by Peru to the north, Bolivia and Argentina to the east, Antarctica to the south and the Pacific Ocean to the west. Its geographic location allows Chile to produce innocuous, high-quality food products with international guarantees, natural flavours, and reliable traceability information.

Chilean foods are innocuous because the country has natural phytosanitary barriers that isolate them and keep them free from pests and disease. Chile does not have foot-and-mouth disease, fruit flies, phylloxera or other pests and diseases.

Due to the country’s geography, climate, experience, and professionalism, the quality of Chilean food products is renowned and appreciated around the world. Thanks to its attributes and its long history of international trade, Chile guarantees its products, which are valued by consumers on every continent.

Companies in this sector have developed technologies to monitor production processes in accordance with strict quality standards and this enables them to produce certified and trustworthy products.

Let’s not forget their flavour, which results from the purity and freshness of their place of origin. Chile’s climate and geographic conditions, such as very warm summers, cool winters and mineral-rich soils, make its food products a source of life.

In 2015, Asia, Oceania and the Middle East were the main markets for Chilean food exports, with South Korea being the third biggest market in the area.

Principal Chilean food exports to Korea (US$ M)

Source: Direcon-ProChile with figures from Chile’s Central Bank

Chilean products at Food and Hotel

The preferential tariffs established in the FTA between Chile and Korea combined with changes in consumption in the market have enabled the range of Chilean food products in Korea to grow considerably. These include processed fruits (frozen, dehydrated and juices), dairy products, chicken, shelled walnuts, boutique/gourmet products, new seafood products, such as mussels, and, since 2012, beef and fresh blueberries. Fresh Chilean products are able to arrive in Korea counter-seasonal to those produced in the Northern Hemisphere, thereby satisfying the market’s increasing demand for healthy food products.

This year the market opened up to Chilean cherry exports, following a rigorous certification process carried out by the Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency (QIA). QIA officials travelled to Chile to personally verify the production and exportation processes for this fruit, as well as the control of pests of concern to Korea. Their visit included a tour of different cherry orchards, packing plants, refrigeration units and other facilities. This process was directed by the Ministry of Agriculture’s Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), an institution of great international prestige because of the sanitary policies implemented in Chile.

Dried and dehydrated fruits

Chile is now one of the biggest exporters of dried and dehydrated fruits. In 2014, the country positioned itself as the world’s biggest exporter of prunes and dehydrated apples and the second biggest exporter of hazelnuts. Chile is also the biggest exporter of walnuts in the Southern Hemisphere and third biggest in the world. Chilean dried and dehydrated fruits have superior organoleptic characteristics that allow them to reach very discriminating niche markets.

The main dried and dehydrated fruits in Chile are walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, prunes, dehydrated apples and raisins. Asia is especially important to Chile’s food industry, so business people and producers from the sector have joined forces under the sector brands “Walnuts from Chile” and “Prunes from Chile” to develop promotional activities in these and other markets with the goal of raising awareness about Chile’s industry among potential clients.

Chilean dried and dehydrated fruit exports to Korea totalled US$11.6 million in 2015, including significant shipments of walnuts.

Chilean wine

Thanks to its exceptional geographical conditions, Chile produces world-class wines.

From north to south, Chile has almost 1,200 kilometres of wine regions, which benefit from a Mediterranean climate and a vast diversity of soils. Chile’s geographical characteristics enable these areas to be protected by natural barriers, such as the world’s driest desert to the north, the Andes mountain range to the east, the breezes blowing from the Pacific Ocean to the west and the ocean and ice sheets to the south. Together they convert Chile into a phytosanitary island and one of the few countries free from phylloxera.

These characteristics ensure that our wines are of exceptional quality and personality: naturally fruity, intense in colour and with delicate aromas.

They also enable Chile to produce organic and sustainable wines. In fact, Chile has the world’s biggest organic vineyards.

In 2015, Chilean wine exports to Korea totalled US$39.5 million, including notable shipments of bottled wine.

Meat Industry

The efficiency and genetic quality of the Chilean industry easily meet or exceed First World standards. Chile’s location and geographical features, plus the concerted efforts of its animal health officials and livestock professionals, technicians and businesspeople, have helped it attain international recognition.

The industry uses sophisticated technology to produce a wide range of quality products. Its vast production experience, well-honed competition skills, and capacity for innovation have been key in its efforts to regulate health and quality standards and secure access to discriminating markets.

Chile is free from all animal diseases on List A of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), including Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). It is also free from avian flu and has stringent barriers in place to keep out this and other diseases.

South Korea is especially important to Chile’s pork industry. Since 2014, pork exports to Korea have been free from customs duties. The industry has therefore joined forces and is working together to promote pork products in Korea under the sector brand ChilePork, through which they carry out a range of activities to promote consumption of this Chilean meat.

Korea positioned itself in 2015 as the biggest export market for Chilean pork, with shipments totalling US$122 million. This accounts for 26% of total exports by the sector.

Pacific Alliance Activities

Toast and joint inauguration of the Alliance pavilions
10 May 2016 | 11.20 am -12.00 pm
Pacific Alliance members’ pavilions

Seminar: “Doing Business with the Pacific Alliance Members"
11 May 2016 from 2 pm to 6 pm
Venue: Kintex, Exhibition Center I, 2F, Seminar Room 205

Chilean Companies at Seoul Food & Hotel

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