Chile Fish Meal HS2301 Export Data 2025 April Overview

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 April Export: Key Takeaways

Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 April (HS Code 2301) reveals a sharply divided market, with the U.S. dominating value at 50.36% of exports despite taking just 19.03% of weight—confirming premium-grade demand. Europe’s high-value cluster (Spain, UK, Netherlands) contrasts Asia’s bulk-driven buyers (China, South Korea, Japan), highlighting a dual-track strategy for Chilean exporters. This analysis covers April 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 April Export Background

Chile Fish Meal, classified under HS Code 2301 as flours, meals, and pellets of meat or fish, is a critical input for animal feed and aquaculture industries, driving steady global demand. Under the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement effective February 2025, exporters must now include their Tax Identification Number for preferential tariffs, ensuring smoother access to key markets like the EU [EC Taxation]. Chile’s strategic role in HS Code 2301 exports for April 2025 is reinforced by its established trade frameworks, including the US-Chile FTA, which maintains favorable conditions for agricultural shipments.

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 April Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

April 2025 marked a significant downturn in unit price for Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 Export, plunging to 0.17 USD/kg, a more than 50% drop from March, despite volume rising to 33.39 million kg.

Price and Volume Dynamics

Month-over-month, the unit price collapse in April contrasts with steady volume growth, suggesting industry-specific factors at play. Fish meal, used primarily in animal feed, often experiences price volatility due to seasonal fishing cycles and feed demand fluctuations. The low April price likely reflects increased supply from peak fishing periods or inventory adjustments, rather than structural shifts, as export volume remained robust at 33.39 million kg.

External Context and Outlook

External trade policies remained stable, with no new restrictions affecting Chile's exports. Under the [EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement], origin declaration updates are in place, but preferential access continues (EU-Chile Guidance), while the US-Chile FTA upholds tariff benefits (USITC). The April price volatility is thus attributed to market dynamics, such as seasonal oversupply, rather than policy changes, indicating potential stabilization ahead.

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 April Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In April 2025, Chile's Fish Meal exports under HS Code 2301 are dominated by sub-code 23012011, which describes flours, meals and pellets of fish or aquatic invertebrates and accounts for over half of the export value. Its unit price of $0.61 per kilogram is much higher than other sub-codes, pointing to a focus on high-value, specialized products. Sub-codes with zero unit prices, like 23011010, are anomalies with minimal trade impact and are set aside from the main analysis.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous sub-codes fall into three clear quality grades: high-grade (23012011 at $0.61/kg), medium-grade (23012012 at $0.24/kg), and low-grade (23012013 at $0.02/kg). This grading shows that Chile's Fish Meal is traded as a bulk commodity, with prices driven by quality standards rather than product differentiation or branding.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

The high unit price of the dominant grade gives Chilean exporters strong pricing power for premium Fish Meal. Companies should prioritize producing high-quality goods to benefit from stable export demand, supported by trade agreements like the EU-Chile Interim Trade Agreement that favor Chilean exports [EU Taxation and Customs Union].

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Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 April Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

The United States stands as the clear value leader for Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 Export 2025 April, taking over half the total export value from a much smaller share of the weight. This large gap between its 50.36% value share and its 19.03% weight share means the product shipped to the U.S. commands a much higher price, pointing to a premium-grade fish meal.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Two distinct buyer groups emerge. Spain forms a high-value cluster with the UK and Netherlands; they buy smaller volumes at top prices, typical of European demand for quality animal feed ingredients. In contrast, China, South Korea, and Japan form a high-volume cluster, taking over two-thirds of the total weight at lower price points, which fits their massive industrial aquaculture and livestock sectors that prioritize bulk supply.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For April 2025, Chilean exporters should maintain this two-track approach. They must continue serving the premium U.S. and EU markets with high-grade product, ensuring compliance with new EU origin declaration rules that require a Chilean Tax ID on shipping documents [European Commission]. Simultaneously, they need reliable logistics to fulfill the large-volume contracts with Asian buyers, who are crucial for overall export volume stability.

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Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 April Export: Action Plan for Fish Meal Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 April market under HS Code 2301 is a classic bulk commodity trade. Price is driven by product grade. High-quality fish meal (sub-code 23012011) commands a premium, especially in markets like the U.S. and EU. Lower grades serve high-volume Asian buyers at competitive prices. The supply chain implication is a need for secure, high-volume processing and logistics. Chile acts as a key processing hub, but its heavy reliance on a small group of dominant buyers creates vulnerability to demand shifts.

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

• Use HS Code sub-category data to prioritize production of high-grade fish meal (23012011). This captures the highest unit value from premium markets like the U.S. and Spain.
• Analyze buyer transaction frequency to forecast demand and prevent inventory overstock. The dominant buyer group's regular purchases enable accurate production planning.
• Leverage origin rules from the EU-Chile trade agreement for all EU-bound shipments. Including the required Chilean Tax ID on documents ensures duty-free access and protects profit margins.
• Monitor the volume and pricing of exports to Asian clusters separately. This allows for dedicated logistics planning to fulfill their large-volume, lower-margin contracts efficiently.

Take Action Now —— Explore Chile Fish Meal Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 April?

The unit price dropped over 50% in April 2025 despite rising volume, likely due to seasonal oversupply from peak fishing cycles or inventory adjustments in the animal feed industry.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 April?

The U.S. leads with 50.36% of export value, followed by Spain, the UK, and the Netherlands (high-value cluster) and China, South Korea, and Japan (high-volume cluster).

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

Prices vary by quality grade: the U.S. and EU pay premium prices for high-grade fish meal (e.g., $0.61/kg for sub-code 23012011), while Asian buyers prioritize bulk volumes of lower-grade product ($0.02–$0.24/kg).

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

Exporters must maintain ties with dominant bulk buyers for stability while ensuring compliance with EU origin rules and prioritizing high-grade production for premium markets like the U.S.

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

U.S. and EU buyers secure premium-quality supply, while Asian buyers benefit from reliable bulk volumes at lower prices, though both depend on Chile’s concentrated export structure.

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

It is primarily used as a protein-rich ingredient in animal feed, especially for aquaculture and livestock industries, explaining its bulk commodity trade dynamics.