Chile Fish Meal HS2301 Export Data 2025 Q1 Overview

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 Q1 Export: Key Takeaways

Chile Fish Meal (HS Code 2301) exports in 2025 Q1 reveal a sharply divided market, with the U.S. driving premium value (62.67% of revenue) while China dominates volume (39.39% of weight). The U.S. pays significantly higher unit prices, signaling demand for high-grade product, whereas China’s bulk purchases reflect commoditized trade. Exporters must balance these distinct buyer clusters—premium (U.S., UK) and volume-driven (China, South Korea)—to optimize revenue and logistics. This analysis covers 2025 Q1 and is based on cleanly processed Customs data from the yTrade database.

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 Q1 Export Background

Chile Fish Meal (HS Code 2301: flours, meals, and pellets of meat or fish; greaves) is a key ingredient in animal feed, supporting global aquaculture and livestock industries due to its high protein content. As of Q1 2025, Chile’s exports under HS 2301 remain stable, with China, the US, and South Korea as top markets, benefiting from duty-free access under trade agreements like the US-Chile FTA [DFAT]. Chile’s strategic role in this trade flow stems from its robust fishing industry and competitive export infrastructure, ensuring steady supply to meet global demand.

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 Q1 Export: Trend Summary

Key Observations

In Q1 2025, Chile Fish Meal exports under HS Code 2301 showed sharp price volatility, with unit prices surging to $0.70/kg in February—a threefold increase from January—before moderating in March, highlighting significant market fluctuations within the quarter.

Price and Volume Dynamics

The Chile Fish Meal export data for 2025 Q1 reveals a dramatic MoM price swing: January's $0.23/kg rose to $0.70/kg in February, then fell to $0.37/kg in March, while volume grew steadily from 22.36M kg to 31.96M kg. This pattern suggests industry-specific factors, such as seasonal variations in fish supply or inventory cycles in animal feed demand, driving the February price spike before normalization. The overall value peaked in February at $16.35M, indicating that volume expansion helped cushion the price drop in March, maintaining robust export momentum for Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 in early 2025.

External Context and Outlook

External factors, including stable trade policies and no new regulatory changes for HS 2301 exports as noted in sources like [OEC World], support this volatility being driven by market dynamics rather than policy shifts. With key destinations like China and the US maintaining open access under existing agreements (OEC World), the outlook for Chile Fish Meal exports remains positive, though price sensitivity to supply chain and demand cycles may persist through 2025.

Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 Q1 Export: HS Code Breakdown

Product Specialization and Concentration

In Q1 2025, Chile's Fish Meal exports under HS Code 2301 are dominated by the high-value sub-code 23012011, which accounts for nearly half of the export value. This sub-code, describing flours, meals and pellets of fish or aquatic invertebrates, has a unit price of 1.01 USD per kilogram, significantly higher than other major codes, indicating a specialized, premium product. Minor sub-codes with zero or negligible unit prices, such as 23011010, are isolated anomalies with minimal impact on the overall market structure.

Value-Chain Structure and Grade Analysis

The remaining significant sub-codes fall into clear quality tiers: high-grade (23012011 at 1.01 USD/kg), medium-grade (23012012 at 0.51 USD/kg), and low-grade (23012013 at 0.16 USD/kg). This grading system points to a fungible bulk commodity trade, where products are differentiated primarily by quality rather than complex manufacturing, aligning with standard animal feed markets tied to global price indices.

Strategic Implication and Pricing Power

For Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 Export 2025 Q1, the commodity-like structure means pricing power is limited to quality differentials and external market forces. [FreightAmigo] notes stable export flows to key markets like China, suggesting no immediate policy shifts, so focus should remain on maintaining quality grades to capture value in competitive markets.

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Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 Q1 Export: Market Concentration

Geographic Concentration and Dominant Role

Chile Fish Meal HS Code 2301 Export 2025 Q1 is heavily concentrated, with the United States and China Mainland together accounting for over 73% of total export value. The United States is the clear value leader, generating 62.67% of the total value from just 19.30% of the weight, indicating it pays a significantly higher unit price. This large disparity between its value share and weight share points to the U.S. purchasing higher-grade, premium product. In contrast, China Mainland dominates volume, supplying 39.39% of the total weight but only 10.80% of the value, signaling its role as the bulk buyer of a more commoditized product.

Partner Countries Clusters and Underlying Causes

The top importers form three clear clusters. The first is the high-value cluster, led by the U.S., which includes the United Kingdom and Costa Rica; these countries pay a premium price for quality. The second is the volume-driven cluster, anchored by China and includes South Korea and Brazil; their focus is on securing large quantities of feed for massive aquaculture and livestock operations. The third is a mid-tier European cluster of Spain and the Netherlands, which balance respectable volume with good value, likely serving regional animal feed manufacturing.

Forward Strategy and Supply Chain Implications

For Chilean exporters, this split market means maintaining a dual strategy: producing high-quality product for premium markets like the U.S. under agreements like the U.S.-Chile FTA [Harmonized Tariff Schedule], and efficiently moving large volumes for bulk buyers like China. The stability of the HS code through 2027 (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) means no regulatory overhauls are expected, allowing producers to focus on optimizing production and logistics to serve these distinct channels effectively, as seen in the steady flows to South Korea and Spain [OEC World].

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Chile Fish Meal (HS 2301) 2025 Q1 Export: Action Plan for Fish Meal Market Expansion

Strategic Supply Chain Overview

The Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 Q1 under HS Code 2301 operates as a bulk commodity trade. Price is driven by product quality grades and global market indices. High-grade exports command premium prices in markets like the US, while bulk volumes go to China at lower rates. Supply chain implications focus on ensuring supply security and acting as a reliable processing hub. This structure demands efficient logistics to serve both premium and volume buyers without disruption.

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

• Track buyer frequency data to schedule production cycles—this prevents inventory overstock and aligns with high-value buyer demand.
• Analyze geographic shipment patterns to allocate quality grades per market—this maximizes revenue by matching premium products to paying regions.
• Monitor HS Code 2301 sub-code trends for quality shifts—this helps maintain competitive pricing and adapt to buyer preferences.
• Strengthen contracts with high-frequency buyers using trade data—this secures stable orders and reduces market volatility risk.
• Review geopolitical updates in key markets like the US and China—this mitigates supply chain disruptions from policy changes.

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 Q1?

The Q1 2025 market saw sharp price volatility, with unit prices tripling in February before moderating in March, driven by industry-specific factors like seasonal supply or demand cycles. Volume growth helped stabilize export momentum despite price fluctuations.

Q2. Who are the main partner countries in this Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 Q1?

The U.S. (62.67% of value) and China (10.80% of value) dominate, together accounting for over 73% of exports. The U.S. focuses on premium-grade product, while China buys bulk volumes at lower prices.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across Chile Fish Meal Export 2025 Q1 partner countries?

Price differences reflect product grades: high-grade (23012011 at 1.01 USD/kg) for premium markets like the U.S., versus bulk low-grade (23012013 at 0.16 USD/kg) for volume-driven buyers like China.

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

Exporters should prioritize relationships with dominant high-value, high-frequency buyers (99.68% of export value) while maintaining quality tiers to serve premium (U.S.) and bulk (China) markets effectively.

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

U.S. buyers secure high-quality product at premium prices, while Chinese buyers benefit from stable bulk supply. Both markets face price volatility but enjoy reliable trade flows under existing agreements.

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

Fish meal is primarily used as animal feed, with quality tiers (high, medium, low-grade) catering to different market needs, from premium aquaculture to large-scale livestock operations.

Detailed Monthly Report

Chile HS2301 Export Snapshot 2025 JAN

Chile HS2301 Export Snapshot 2025 FEB

Chile HS2301 Export Snapshot 2025 MAR