Trade commodities in Chile
Chile is the world's largest copper producer, accounting for over a quarter of global output, and a major producer of lithium, molybdenum, and iodine. The country's mining sector is the backbone of its economy, with CODELCO as the world's largest copper-producing company. Chile is also a significant exporter of fresh fruits, wine, and salmon.
What Chile sells and buys.
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Buy from Chile
Main exports
- Copper
- Lithium
- Molybdenum
- Fresh Fruits
- Salmon
- Wine
Chile's commodity trade profile
Chile is the world's largest copper producer (~28% of global mine output) and the second-largest lithium producer (after Australia). Top copper export buyers: China, Japan, South Korea, EU, US. Cathode and concentrate flow separately: concentrate goes to Asian smelters, cathodes ship as finished refined product. Chile is also a meaningful exporter of fishmeal, fresh fruit (avocados, cherries, blueberries), and salmon. On imports: refined petroleum, machinery, and grains.
How commodity trade works in Chile
Codelco (state-owned, the world's largest copper producer at ~1.5 Mt cathode/year) shapes global copper benchmark dynamics. Private producers, BHP Escondida, Anglo American Los Bronces, Antofagasta Minerals (Pelambres, Centinela), Glencore Collahuasi, round out the supply base. The Chilean lithium industry is concentrated in the Salar de Atacama under SQM and Albemarle concession arrangements, structurally constrained by water-rights and indigenous community agreements. Chilean Aduanas (customs) data is publicly available: the SNA Tipo Cambio and the DIN/DUS detailed shipment records are extensively used by trade intelligence platforms.
Trading with Chile counterparties
Payment customs: LC dominant for new buyers, open account for blue-chip relationships. Chile-EU, Chile-US, Chile-China FTAs reduce duties materially on most commodity flows. Disputes typically resolve via Cámara de Comercio de Santiago arbitration or LME for copper-specific quality matters.
Trading in Chile.
- Major ports
- Valparaiso
- San Antonio
- Antofagasta
- Iquique
- Mejillones
- Free trade zones
- Iquique Free Trade Zone (ZOFRI)
- Punta Arenas Free Trade Zone
- Arica Free Trade Zone
- Key regulations
- Chile's National Customs Service manages commodity trade. The country has the most extensive free trade agreement network globally, including agreements with China, the EU, US, Japan, and South Korea. CODELCO and SQM dominate copper and lithium export licensing.
Find the exporters and importers in Chile.
The CTX Directory maps the companies headquartered in Chile and the ones that buy from it, by commodity and role, with the decision-makers to unlock.
Find your counterparties in Chile.
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