Chile Fish Flour HS230120 Export Data 2025 July Overview

Chile Fish Flour (HS 230120) 2025 July Export: Key Takeaways

Chile Fish Flour (HS Code 230120) exports in July 2025 reveal a premium product market, with the US paying significantly higher prices for quality material despite lower volume share. China dominates by weight (58.18%), while the US captures 56.51% of total value, signaling strong demand for high-grade feed. The price surge to 0.20 USD/kg confirms recovering market appetite, urging suppliers to prioritize premium buyers. Buyer concentration is high, with China and the US driving most trade, posing geographic risk but also opportunity for targeted strategies. This analysis covers July 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Chile Fish Flour (HS 230120) 2025 July Export Background

What is HS Code 230120?

HS Code 230120 covers flours, meals, and pellets of fish or crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates, primarily used as high-protein animal feed in aquaculture and livestock industries. This product is critical for global food supply chains due to its nutritional value and cost-effectiveness. Chile’s Fish Flour exports under HS Code 230120 are a key component of its trade portfolio, driven by robust demand from agricultural and feed sectors worldwide.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In July 2025, Chile’s Fish Flour HS Code 230120 exports surged by $6.55 million (12.5%) month-over-month, reaching $59 million, with unit prices rebounding to $0.20/kg from June’s low of $0.08/kg [yTrade]. This recovery highlights the product’s sensitivity to global commodity price fluctuations and supply-demand dynamics. Chile’s strategic position as a leading exporter is reinforced by its abundant marine resources and compliance with international trade agreements, such as the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement [eCFR]. Market vigilance remains essential, as export restrictions and raw material policies could impact future trade flows [OECD].

Chile Fish Flour (HS 230120) 2025 July Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In July 2025, Chile Fish Flour HS Code 230120 Export reached $8.74 million in value with a volume of 43.69 million kg, marking a strong monthly recovery driven by a sharp price increase to $0.20 per kg.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The month-over-month surge from June's $3.13 million and 36.61 million kg reflects a typical seasonal rebound in fish meal exports, often tied to improved fishing yields and animal feed demand cycles in the Southern Hemisphere winter. This recovery aligns with the product's industry pattern, where mid-year supply stabilizations often follow volatile spring months, though the magnitude of the price jump highlights exceptional market conditions.

External Context and Outlook

This volatility is directly explained by external factors, as reported by [yTrade], which cited a unit price surge from $0.08 to $0.20 per kg due to reduced global supply pressures and strengthened trade flows. With no new export restrictions noted in policy reviews, the outlook remains positive, supported by steady demand from key partners like the U.S. under existing trade agreements.

Chile Fish Flour (HS 230120) 2025 July Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

Chile's Fish Flour exports under HS Code 230120 in July 2025 are highly concentrated in a low-value bulk product. yTrade data shows sub-code 23012013, described as "Flours, meals and pellets; of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs or other aquatic invertebrates," dominates with over half the total export weight (51.92%) but only 7.88% of the total value, resulting in an extremely low unit price of just 0.03 USD/kg. This extreme price anomaly isolates it as a distinct, low-grade component. The remaining trade is split between two higher-value specialized products.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The market structure reveals two clear value tiers beyond the bulk anomaly. The first is a mid-grade product (23012012) with a moderate unit price of 0.30 USD/kg, accounting for nearly a third of the total weight. The second is a premium-grade product (23012011) with a significantly higher unit price of 0.56 USD/kg, representing a smaller share of the weight but nearly half the total export value. This two-tiered structure, focused on animal feed ingredients, indicates a trade in fungible bulk commodities where price is directly linked to protein content and quality grade rather than brand differentiation.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For Chile Fish Flour HS Code 230120 Export 2025 July, this structure means pricing power is concentrated with producers of the premium 23012011 grade. The sharp unit price recovery to 0.20 USD/kg in July 2025, as reported by [yTrade], alongside a 12.5% month-on-month export value increase [OEC World], confirms that market strategy must focus on maximizing output of higher-grade products to capture value in volatile commodity cycles.

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Chile Fish Flour (HS 230120) 2025 July Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Chile Fish Flour HS Code 230120 Export 2025 July is heavily concentrated, with China Mainland taking 58.18% of the weight and the United States capturing 56.51% of the total value. The significant disparity between the US's high value share (56.51%) and its lower weight share (12.96%) points to a premium product grade, as buyers pay more per kilogram. This pattern shows the US market values higher-quality feed material.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Two clear clusters emerge. The first includes the US and Spain, which both show high value relative to weight, suggesting they are paying for quality. A second cluster consists of major Asian manufacturing economies like South Korea and Japan, which import larger volumes at a lower unit cost, likely for standard animal feed production. A third group of smaller buyers, including the UK, Italy, Argentina, and Brazil, make occasional purchases of smaller, potentially specialized lots.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

The July 2025 price surge to 0.20 USD/kg [yTrade] confirms the market's recovery and appetite for premium product. Suppliers should prioritize high-value markets like the US to maximize returns. For supply chains, this means ensuring consistent quality control and reliable shipping to maintain this premium positioning, as buyers are clearly willing to pay more for superior material.

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Chile Fish Flour (HS 230120) 2025 July Export: Action Plan for Fish Flour Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Chile Fish Flour Export 2025 July market under HS Code 230120 is a classic bulk commodity trade. Price is driven by product grade. The premium sub-code 23012011 commands over half the value due to its higher protein quality. Buyer concentration is extreme. A single group of high-frequency, high-volume buyers controls over 90% of purchases. Geopolitics also matter. The US pays premium prices for quality, while China absorbs bulk volume at lower margins.

This creates clear supply chain implications. Chile must prioritize quality control to serve high-value markets. Logistics must ensure reliable, large-volume shipments to a few key partners. The entire chain is vulnerable to demand shifts from major buyers or global commodity price swings. Success depends on securing the supply of premium-grade product and maintaining strong buyer relationships.

Action Plan: Data-Driven Steps for Fish Flour Market Execution

• Analyze HS Code sub-component data monthly. Track the production and export volume share of premium 23012011 versus bulk grades. This identifies real-time opportunities to shift output toward higher-value products and maximize revenue per shipment.
• Use buyer frequency data to negotiate long-term contracts. Secure commitments from the dominant high-volume buyers. This reduces market volatility risk and ensures stable offtake for planned production cycles.
• Prioritize logistics for high-value destinations like the US. Allocate the best quality product and ensure reliable shipping lanes to this market. This capitalizes on their willingness to pay a premium, directly boosting profit margins.
• Develop a risk mitigation plan targeting buyer diversification. Use trade data to identify and engage potential new clients in markets like Spain or South Korea. This reduces over-reliance on a single buyer group and builds a more resilient sales portfolio.

Final Note: Traditional market analysis misses the profit-critical details of sub-code value and individual buyer patterns. Success in the Chile Fish Flour HS Code 230120 market requires this granular, data-driven approach.

Take Action Now —— Explore Chile Fish Flour Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Chile Fish Flour Export 2025 July?

The July 2025 surge to $0.20/kg (+150% from June) reflects seasonal recovery in fish meal exports, driven by improved fishing yields and strong demand from key markets like the U.S. and China.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this Chile Fish Flour Export 2025 July?

China dominates volume (58.18% of weight), while the U.S. leads in value (56.51%), followed by Spain and Asian manufacturing economies like South Korea and Japan.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across Chile Fish Flour Export 2025 July partner countries?

Price gaps stem from product grades: the U.S. and Spain pay premiums for high-grade 23012011 ($0.56/kg), while Asia buys bulk 23012013 ($0.03/kg) for standard feed.

Q4. What should exporters in Chile focus on in the current Fish Flour export market?

Prioritize premium-grade production (23012011) for high-value markets like the U.S. and secure long-term contracts with dominant buyers (92.37% of trade value).

Q5. What does this Chile Fish Flour export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

U.S. buyers face competition for limited premium supply, while Asian bulk buyers benefit from stable low-cost volumes. Smaller buyers access niche, specialized lots.

Q6. How is Fish Flour typically used in this trade flow?

Primarily as animal feed ingredient, with quality grades (protein content) determining use in premium livestock nutrition (U.S.) or bulk feed production (Asia).