Chile Fish Flour HS230120 Export Data 2025 September Overview

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

Chile's Fish Flour exports under HS Code 230120 in September 2025 reveal a premium-grade product, with the US dominating high-value shipments (63.72% value share) at 0.79 USD/kg, while China drives bulk volume (52.07% weight share) at lower prices. The market shows strong growth, with exports rising 12.5% mid-2025, supported by trade agreements like EU-Chile for high-value buyers. Buyer concentration is high, with the US and China accounting for over 75% of trade, creating both opportunity and risk. This analysis is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database for September 2025.

Chile Fish Flour (HS 230120) 2025 September Export Background

What is HS Code 230120?

HS Code 230120 refers to flours, meals, and pellets of fish or of crustaceans, molluscs, or other aquatic invertebrates, commonly known as fish flour. This product is primarily used in animal feed, aquaculture, and pet food industries due to its high protein content and nutritional value. Global demand remains stable, driven by the growing aquaculture sector and the need for sustainable protein sources. Chile, with its extensive coastline and robust fishing industry, is a key producer and exporter of this commodity.

Current Context and Strategic Position

In 2025, Chile's fish flour exports under HS Code 230120 are navigating a dynamic trade environment. The EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement (2024) [EU Taxation and Customs] introduces new rules of origin, potentially affecting tariff preferences for Chilean exports. Meanwhile, the U.S. Foreign Trade Barriers Report (2025) highlights ongoing trade policy adjustments [USTR]. Chile's strategic position as a leading exporter of fish flour is reinforced by its competitive production costs and access to key markets in Asia, Europe, and North America. However, exporters must remain vigilant to regulatory shifts and global commodity price fluctuations, particularly in September 2025, to maintain competitiveness.

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

Key Observations

Chile's Fish Flour exports under HS Code 230120 in September 2025 reached 3.56 million USD in value and 33.53 million kg in volume, marking a significant decline from the elevated levels seen earlier in the year.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The 2025 export values for Chile Fish Flour exhibited sharp fluctuations, with a peak of 16.35 million USD in February followed by a trough of 3.13 million USD in June, before a partial recovery and another drop to 3.56 million USD in September. This volatility aligns with typical seasonal patterns in the animal feed industry, where demand often surges during key farming periods and ebbs thereafter. The weight shipped mirrored this trend, reinforcing the impact of cyclical agricultural cycles on trade volumes.

External Context and Outlook

The decline in September exports follows a reported 12.5% increase in animal feed shipments from Chile between June and July 2025, as noted by OEC World. This suggests that the September downturn may reflect a post-seasonal normalization, compounded by evolving trade dynamics under agreements like the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement, which could influence tariff structures and export timing for HS Code 230120 products moving forward.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

Chile's Fish Flour HS Code 230120 export in 2025 September is dominated by the high-value sub-code 23012011, which accounts for nearly half of the total export value. This product, described as flours, meals and pellets of fish or aquatic invertebrates, commands a unit price of 0.40 USD per kilogram, significantly higher than other variants. yTrade data shows that while sub-code 23012013 has the highest shipment frequency and weight share, its lower unit price of 0.04 USD per kilogram indicates a bulk-oriented nature. Notably, sub-codes 23012090 and 23012029 are isolated anomalies with minimal activity and zero value, excluded from the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The market structure for Chile Fish Flour exports reveals three distinct value-add stages: high-grade products under 23012011 with premium pricing, mid-grade under 23012012 at 0.12 USD per kilogram, and low-value bulk commodities under 23012013. This grading suggests a mix of differentiated goods for specialized uses and fungible bulk materials tied to commodity markets, with the bulk segment dominating by volume but not value.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For market players, the premium unit price of high-grade Fish Flour under 23012011 offers stronger pricing power, while bulk exporters face competitive pressure. The growth in Chile's animal feed exports, as noted in [OEC World], supports a strategic focus on expanding higher-value segments to capitalize on this upward trend in 2025.

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

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

In September 2025, Chile's Fish Flour exports under HS Code 230120 show strong concentration, with the UNITED STATES leading in value share at 63.72% despite only 8.54% of weight, indicating a high unit price of approximately 0.79 USD/kg for premium-grade product aimed at specialized markets like pet food or aquaculture feed. This value-weight disparity points to the US as the dominant buyer of higher-quality output, while CHINA MAINLAND handles over half the volume (52.07% weight share) but only 11.93% value, reflecting bulk, lower-cost shipments for mass consumption.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Two main clusters emerge: high-value partners like the US and UK (17.23% value share) likely demand quality for regulated animal feed sectors, leveraging trade agreements for tariff advantages. Volume-focused buyers such as China, South Korea (14.28% weight), and Japan (9.65% weight) drive bulk purchases for cost-efficient aquaculture or livestock operations, aided by geographic proximity and scale needs. A third group including Italy and Brazil shows sporadic, smaller deals, possibly for regional niche markets or trial shipments.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Suppliers should prioritize maintaining premium quality for high-value markets like the US to uphold margins, while optimizing bulk logistics to Asia for volume growth, as exports rose 12.5% in mid-2025 [OEC World]. Logistics firms must ensure efficient weight-based shipping for China-bound cargo, and traders can use EU-Chile trade agreements (OEC World) to explore European opportunities, avoiding tariff barriers.

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

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Chile Fish Flour Export 2025 September market under HS Code 230120 is defined by two core price drivers. First, product quality and grade dictate value. High-grade flour for specialized uses commands premium prices in markets like the United States. Second, concentrated buyer reliance creates pricing pressure. Frequent, high-volume buyers dominate trade, reducing negotiation flexibility for bulk shipments.

These drivers create clear supply chain implications. Chile acts as a processing hub, transforming raw fish into differentiated products. Logistics must prioritize both speed for premium buyers and cost efficiency for bulk Asia shipments. Over-dependence on a few buyers and routes introduces vulnerability to demand shifts or geopolitical disruptions.

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

• Use shipment frequency data from HS Code 230120 to predict buyer order cycles. This prevents inventory overstock and aligns production with demand.
• Analyze unit prices by destination to prioritize high-value markets like the United States. This maximizes revenue per kilogram exported.
• Monitor buyer concentration ratios monthly to identify over-reliance risks. Diversifying your client base protects against sudden order cancellations.
• Leverage trade agreement maps for the European Union to target new premium buyers. Reducing tariffs increases competitiveness in high-margin markets.
• Track weight-value discrepancies by country to optimize logistics contracts. Negotiating freight rates based on actual shipment profiles cuts transportation costs.

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 September?

The September 2025 decline reflects typical seasonal volatility in animal feed demand, following a mid-year surge. High-value exports to the US and bulk shipments to China dominate the trade structure, with cyclical agricultural cycles influencing volume fluctuations.

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

The UNITED STATES leads with 63.72% of export value, followed by CHINA MAINLAND (11.93% value, 52.07% weight) and the UK (17.23% value). These three account for the majority of trade.

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

Price differences stem from product grades: the US buys high-grade 23012011 at 0.79 USD/kg for specialized markets, while China purchases bulk 23012013 at lower prices for mass consumption.

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

Exporters should prioritize relationships with frequent high-value buyers (88.72% of trade) and maintain premium quality for the US market while optimizing bulk logistics for Asian volume buyers.

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

US buyers secure high-grade supply for niche uses, while Chinese buyers benefit from cost-efficient bulk shipments. Over-reliance on Chile’s dominant exporters may pose supply chain risks for both segments.

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

It serves primarily as animal feed, with high-grade variants for regulated sectors like pet food and aquaculture, and bulk grades for livestock operations or mass aquaculture feed.