Chile Fish Meal HS2301 Export Data 2025 March Overview

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

Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 Export 2025 March reveals a stark divide between premium and bulk markets, with the US paying 1.45 USD/kg for high-grade product (54% of value) while China dominates volume at just 0.05 USD/kg. The market shows clear clustering—high-value buyers like the US and EU demand quality for aquaculture, while Asia prioritizes cost-efficient bulk shipments. This analysis covers March 2025 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database. Exporters must strategically target premium markets leveraging trade agreements while optimizing bulk supply chains for Asia.

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 March Export Background

Chile Fish Meal (HS Code 2301), which includes flours, meals, and pellets of meat or fish, is a key ingredient in aquaculture and livestock feed due to its high protein content, driving steady global demand. The recent Chile-EU Interim Trade Agreement, effective February 2025, eliminates tariffs for 99.6% of Chilean exports, including Fish Meal, and simplifies origin certification for March 2025 shipments [Marcachile]. Chile’s strong fisheries sector positions it as a competitive exporter, especially under these new trade terms.

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

Key Observations

March 2025 saw a sharp decline in unit prices for Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 Export, dropping to 0.37 USD/kg from February's 0.70 USD/kg, while volume surged to 31.96 million kg, indicating a significant shift in market dynamics.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The month-over-month comparison reveals a 47% price drop alongside a 37% volume increase from February to March 2025. In the fish meal industry, such volatility often stems from seasonal fishing cycles; increased catches in early year months typically boost supply, driving prices down as exporters clear inventory ahead of peak demand periods. This pattern aligns with the data, where higher volume outpaced price resilience, reflecting typical supply-driven adjustments rather than demand shocks.

External Context and Outlook

The Chile-EU Interim Trade Agreement [Marcachile], effective from February 2025, facilitated tariff-free access for nearly all Chilean exports to the EU, including fish meal. This policy likely accelerated March shipments under simplified origin rules, compounding seasonal supply increases to depress prices. Looking ahead, sustained export volumes may continue, but price recovery will hinge on balancing this eased trade flow with global feed demand cycles.

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

Product Specialization and Concentration

In March 2025, Chile's Fish Meal exports under HS Code 2301 are highly concentrated in high-value fish meal products, specifically dominated by sub-code 23012011 for flours, meals, and pellets of fish or aquatic invertebrates, which holds a 45.5% value share despite only 16.8% of the weight, indicating a premium unit price of $1.00 per kilogram. An extreme price anomaly is present in sub-code 23012013, with a unit price of $0.10 per kilogram, which is isolated from the main analysis due to its disproportionately low value relative to its high weight share of 45.2%.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The non-anomalous sub-codes can be grouped into two clear categories based on unit price and value contribution: high-grade fish meal (23012011 at $1.00/kg) and medium-grade fish meal (23012012 at $0.42/kg). This structure suggests a trade in differentiated goods rather than fungible bulk commodities, as the significant price disparities reflect variations in quality or processing stages, with high-grade products commanding higher prices and value shares.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

Producers of high-grade Chile Fish Meal under HS Code 2301 have strong pricing power due to product differentiation, allowing them to capture higher margins in exports. The recent Chile-EU Interim Trade Agreement, which entered force in February 2025, provides tariff reductions and streamlined origin certification [Carey], potentially enhancing market access for these value-added products in key regions like the EU, supporting strategic focus on premium segments for March 2025 exports.

Check Detailed HS 2301 Breakdown

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

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 Export 2025 March shows a clear split, with the UNITED STATES dominating in value at 54.21% of total export value despite only 13.88% of weight, indicating it pays a premium unit price around 1.45 USD/kg for higher-grade product, while CHINA MAINLAND leads in volume with 34.51% of weight but only 4.42% of value, suggesting bulk, lower-value shipments at roughly 0.05 USD/kg.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

Two main clusters emerge: high-value importers like the US, Spain, Netherlands, UK, Brazil, and Italy, where value ratios exceed weight ratios, likely due to demand for premium Fish Meal for aquaculture or pet food; and high-volume, lower-value importers like China, South Korea, Germany, and Japan, where weight dominance points to industrial use in animal feed, driven by cost efficiency and scale.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

Exporters should prioritize premium markets like the US and EU, leveraging trade agreements such as the Chile-EU Interim Trade Agreement that reduces tariffs [Marcachile] (Marcachile), while optimizing bulk supply chains for Asia to maintain cost competitiveness, ensuring certifications like origin self-declaration are in place for smooth EU access.

Get Complete Partner Countries Profile

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

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 March under HS Code 2301 reveals a dual market structure. Price is driven by product grade differentiation and destination-specific demand. High-grade fish meal (like sub-code 23012011) commands premium prices in markets like the US and EU. Medium-grade product moves in bulk to Asia at lower margins. The new Chile-EU trade agreement reduces tariffs and simplifies certification, supporting premium market access. Supply chains must split: high-value flows need quality assurance and compliance, while bulk flows require cost-efficient logistics.

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

• Segment buyers by purchase frequency and value using trade data. Focus sales efforts on high-value, high-frequency buyers to ensure stable, recurring revenue and reduce market volatility.
• Analyze destination-specific unit prices for HS Code 2301 sub-codes. Prioritize production and shipping of high-grade fish meal to premium markets like the US and EU to maximize profit per kilogram.
• Leverage the Chile-EU Interim Trade Agreement for tariff reductions. Ensure all exports to the EU use self-declaration of origin to cut costs and speed up customs clearance for competitive advantage.
• Monitor real-time demand shifts in high-volume, low-value markets like China. Adjust bulk shipment schedules and logistics contracts to avoid overstock and maintain cost efficiency.

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 March?

A1. A 47% price drop alongside a 37% volume surge reflects seasonal supply increases and accelerated shipments under the new Chile-EU trade agreement, which eased tariffs and certification.

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

A2. The US dominates with 54.2% of export value, while China leads in volume (34.5% of weight), followed by Spain, the Netherlands, and other EU markets.

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

A3. High-grade fish meal (e.g., sub-code 23012011 at $1.00/kg) commands premium prices in the US and EU, while bulk shipments to China and Asia trade at lower rates ($0.05/kg).

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

A4. Prioritize high-value buyers (99.7% of trade) and premium markets like the US/EU, leveraging tariff reductions under new trade agreements for high-grade products.

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

A5. US/EU buyers secure premium-grade supply at stable rates, while Asian buyers benefit from cost-efficient bulk volumes, though with less price volatility resilience.

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

A6. High-grade products serve aquaculture/pet food in premium markets, while bulk shipments fuel industrial animal feed in high-volume, low-cost regions like Asia.