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- In the first year of its Association Agreement with the European Union, Chile's exports to the EU increased by 18%. Grape shipments expanded by nearly 40%
- All of Chile's Central Government services currently maintain Internet websites, and 170 transactions can already be carried out online.
- 80% of 2003 Income declarations to the Internal Revenue Service are submitted using the internet.
- For the first time in 5 years Chile will log an effective surplus: 1.6% of GDP according to the Central Bank figures.
- Chilean investment abroad grew by 132% in the first 5 months of the year, as compared to the same period in 2003.
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| Did you know? |
- In 2003 the port of Valparaiso was declared a World Heritage Site.
- Also on the list are Easter Island and 16 churches in the island of Chiloe.
- This year marks the centennial of the birth of the poet Pablo Neruda, commemorated with numerous activities in Chile and abroad.
- In June 10, 1910, president Pedro Montt, in his Message to the Nation, described Chile as a country with 3.5 million inhabitants, including 328.000 students. He informed the legislature of the extension of the telegraph system, the rebuilding of Valparaiso, plans for the construction of the city of Valdivia, and the start of a project to ensure the supply of potable water in Santiago.
- Currently the population of Chile exceeds 15 million, of which some 4.5 million are students. It has one of the world's most modern telecommunications systems, and 99.7% of the urban population is supplied with potable water.
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Fresh Fruit Exports from Chile
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Chile's fresh fruit industry celebrated a milestone event on July 21st - it's first-ever 200 million case season for fresh fruit exports. The commemoration of this important milestone was celebrated at the docks of Valparaiso, Chile's principal point of embarkation for fresh fruit.
Chile's fresh fruit effort is led by table grapes, accounting for roughly half all fruit exports, followed by apples, kiwifruit and stone fruit. While these fruits are crucial to Chile's success as a world leader in fresh fruit exports, other locally produced varieties such as avocados, blueberries and clementines are also making great headway in the international markets. Chile's fruit is exported to North America (40%), the EU (32%), Latin American markets (16%), Asian (7%) and Middle East (5%), hence being enjoyed by consumers in more than 70 nations around the world.
The 200 million cases benchmark comes after more than 30 years of intense competition with other Southern Hemisphere fruit exporting nations, principally South Africa, New Zealand and Australia.
Chile, the Southern Hemisphere's most important fruit export nation, has jumped to its leadership position by adapting to quickly changing market demands and by developing a modern, sophisticated infrastructure emphasising traceability and Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
Recently, the market adaptation is best seen by the industry's quick move into bi-colour apple varieties and the growth of the crimson table grape variety - two fruit varieties that didn't exist in the country 15 years ago. The bi-colour apples have now largely replaced the traditional red apples, which have lost favour with consumers in recent years; while production of alternative varieties such as crimsons - originally exported to the European market, have undergone exponential growth during the last few seasons. Exports of crimson varieties during the last season have reached close to 9% of the total grape mix exported by Chile and are estimated to continue growing.
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Top London Chefs with ProChile London
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Chilean Furniture Trade Mission
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During the last decade, the Chilean furniture industry has grown considerably. Their success is linked to high investment in state of the art technology, abundant supply of raw material (high quality wood) and relatively cheap labor.
Naturally, the main market for Chilean Exports in this field is the United States, but since the signing of the free trade agreement with the EU, exports tariffs for Chilean furniture and joinery has become zero.
This has the potential for some good opportunities in the UK market, as the source is very reliable and has very competitive prices.
For this reason, ProChile is organizing the first Trade Mission of Chilean furniture manufacturers. They will participate in the ASFI annual fair, to be held in Birmingham next October, and maintain a busy agenda with the main players in the furniture sector, with the likes of Graham Holdsworth from ASFI, Roger Mason from BFM, as well as Alex Saville-Brown from Courts and David Imrie from Furniture Village to mention but a few.
From Chile, the companies attending will be Copihue, Magasa, Bernarda, Muebles Sur and Temuco Furniture.
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Chile's reputation as a producer of top quality and well priced wines has never been higher. Its exports have been growing steadily and the UK has seen the most impressive rise in sales and distribution. Following the opening of the Wines of Chile UK office in June of 2003, the intensive programme of promotions, tastings, and information campaigns is beginning to bear fruit:
- Last year, and for the first time ever, the value of British imports of Chilean wine was higher than that of Chilean copper, a commodity that is still Chile's most successful export internationally.
- Chile's share of the retail off-trade grew 15% by volume and 14% by value in the 12 months to June 2004 - a growth rate three times that of Australia
- Chile now has 6.3% by value of the UK market - and it has overtaken Spain to claim 6th position in the country's share.
- Chile now has a 6% share of the on-trade hotel & restaurant market in the UK - the highest share of any New World country except Australia
- Exports of bottled wine from Chile to the UK increased in the first six months of 2004 by 12% by volume, and 14% by FOB value
Sources: AC Nielsen - Wine Intelligence - Chile Govt. export stats - HMCE stats
The image of Chilean wines has improved substantially during the last 12 months, with many well-respected wine journalists writing positive comments about the growing quality and diversity of Chile's wines:
"Between £5 and £20 Chile must surely now be one the most exciting wine producing countries in the world"
Peter Richards - writing in Decanter magazine - Sept 2004
"Chile has stealthily undergone a quiet revolution, characterised by innovation in new areas, investment in winemaking, improved vine material, and a broader spectrum of grapes"
Anthony Rose - wine writer for The Independent newspaper and Decanter
"Chile has increased its confidence in its wines, and is playing to its strengths...with the quality and stylistic diversity of which the country is so evidently capable...
It won't be long before we start talking of Casablanca and Colchagua in the same breath as Marlborough (New Zealand) and Coonawarra (Australia)
Anthony Rose - wine writer for the Independent newspaper and Decanter
As the Wines of Chile office manages marketing, promotional campaigns and activities in the UK, the Commercial Department of the Embassy of Chile in London -ProChile- can assist any British importer or wine expert whom are seeking information and contacts, particularly with regard to many Chilean wineries that are not yet exporting into the UK and are looking for business partners in this market.
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Information on Chile. Exports: The Engine of Chile's Development
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The Chilean economy has gone through some major changes in the last 25 years, driven by the government's firm commitment to market liberalization, transparency and fiscal accountability. Openness to trade and investment, coupled with institutional stability, have given rise to a widely acclaimed economic model. While economic efficiency continues to be the top priority, the government is working diligently at the same time to improve the legal, health care and educational systems and also to improve income equality and alleviate poverty
International Trade
Chile is acknowledged the world over as a trade pioneer in Latin America. It has signed numerous free trade agreements, in addition to which it has systematically whittled down its customs duties.
Even though imports have increased, Chile's economic success is due to the role played by the export industry. The country now sells a vast array of goods from different industries including agriculture, forestry, mining, seafood and industrial products. Also on the rise are exports in services, particularly tourism, telecommunications and banking.
An Export Oriented Economy
Chilean exporters are equipped with technical skills and efficiency and they have shown a remarkable ability to adapt. These traits are reflected in the export industry's outstanding growth indicators for the past two decades. In the past 20 years, the range of export products grew from 412 to 3,854, while destination markets increased from 50 to 165. Significantly, in 2003, the number of exporting firms rose to 6,435.
Chile has managed to achieve a competitive position as an exporter of top quality products.
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The London ProChile Office and the Chilean Embassy gave a dinner in support of the efforts of their promotional activities in London. This time it was in support of seafood products that are not well known in the United Kingdom but have great potential: king crab and sea urchins. The dinner given by Ambassador Fernandez was a success both for the quality of the food and wines and for the attendance of well known head chefs of traditionally famous restaurants, such as the Georgian at Harrods; Le Coq d'Argent, Le Gascon and Le Cercle; Grosvenor Hotel; the Wellington Club; Sketch and Osia. The London Chefs invited to dinner were Jerôme Dutois, from Harrods; M. Pascal Aurillac from Club Gascon and Le Cercle, Fabrizio Cadei of The Grosvenor House Hotel, Michael Weiss, of Coq d'Argent (City) and Mr. Fernando Stovell, from the Wellington Club.