2025 Chile Pacific Salmon (HS 030441) Export: Extreme Volatility

Key Takeaways

Pacific Salmon, classified under HS Code 030441 (Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus species), fresh or chilled), exhibited high volatility from January to September 2025.

• Market Pulse: Exports under HS Code 030441 showed extreme swings, peaking at $134 million in April before plunging 52% to $65 million in August, then partially recovering to $77 million by September.
• Structural Shift: Chile Pacific Salmon Export reliance on the U.S. (93.62% of value) creates acute exposure to demand shifts, with minimal diversification from secondary markets like Mexico (1.52%) and Canada (1.28%).
• Product Logic: HS Code 030441 trade data reveals a premium-driven market, with fresh/chilled fillets commanding $4.34/kg—7.9x higher than other forms ($0.55/kg)—dominating 99.9% of export value.

This overview covers the period from January to September 2025 and is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.

Chile Pacific Salmon (HS Code 030441) Key Metrics Trend

Market Trend Summary

The Chile Pacific Salmon export trend through the first three quarters of 2025 showed pronounced volatility, opening strong before entering a sharp mid-year correction. Exports surged from January's $79 million to an April peak of $134 million, then collapsed to a $65 million trough in August—representing a 52% decline from the high—before modestly recovering to $77 million in September. This pattern created a clear M-shaped curve with two distinct cycles of growth and contraction within the nine-month window.

Drivers & Industry Context

The extreme volatility stems from Chile's heavy reliance on the US market, which accounted for over 90% of shipments under HS code 030441 according to trade reports [ytrade.com]. The April peak coincided with strong seasonal demand and premium pricing in secondary markets like Japan, while the summer collapse reflected typical oversupply pressures and price competition in primary markets. The partial September recovery aligned with inventory rebuilding cycles, though the overall hs code 030441 value remained constrained by continued concentration in a single dominant market. Exporters simultaneously navigated updated EU-Chile origin documentation requirements [European Commission], though this affected smaller trade lanes compared to the US-dominated volume fluctuations.

Table: Chile Pacific Salmon Export Trend (Source: yTrade)

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Chile HS Code 030441 Export Breakdown

Market Composition & Top Categories

Chile's HS Code 030441 export market is overwhelmingly dominated by a single high-value category, which accounts for 99.9% of the total export value and 99% of the weight shipped throughout the first three quarters of 2025. According to yTrade data, this category is fresh or chilled salmon fillets, with the remaining sub-codes representing negligible volumes of lower-value product forms.

Value Chain & Strategic Insights

The market structure reveals a stark price dichotomy: the dominant fillets command a premium unit price of $4.34 per kilogram, while other forms trade at just $0.55/kg. This extreme divergence confirms a highly specialized, quality-sensitive market rather than a commoditized one. For Chile HS Code 030441 breakdown, the trade structure is defined by processing stage and product form, with fillets capturing virtually all the value.

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Chile Pacific Salmon Destination Countries

Geographic Concentration & Market Risk

Chile's Pacific Salmon export destinations show extreme concentration in the United States, which captured 93.62% of the total export value from January to September 2025. This overwhelming reliance on a single market creates significant exposure to any shifts in U.S. trade policy or consumer demand. The minimal shares held by secondary partners like Mexico (1.52%) and Canada (1.28%) offer little immediate diversification, highlighting a critical vulnerability for Chilean exporters dependent on this single revenue stream.

Purchasing Behavior & Demand Segmentation

The U.S. market's purchasing behavior reveals a profile of quality-conscious, high-frequency demand. The nearly identical value (93.62%) and weight (92.44%) ratios indicate shipments are not heavily discounted bulk commodities but align with consistent unit pricing. With a massive frequency of 48.22 thousand shipments, the trade pattern points to a fragmented, retail-driven supply chain requiring Just-in-Time replenishment. This positions the U.S. as a market offering both volume scale and stable margin potential for Chilean Pacific Salmon.

Table: Chile Pacific Salmon (HS Code 030441) Top Destination Countries (Source: yTrade)

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Action Plan for Pacific Salmon Market Operation and Expansion

• Diversify export markets: Target emerging buyers in Asia and Europe to reduce overexposure to U.S. demand volatility, which drove the 52% mid-year collapse.
• Lock in forward contracts: Hedge against price swings by securing fixed-price agreements during high-demand periods (e.g., pre-April) to stabilize revenue.
• Optimize logistics for premium products: Focus on cold-chain efficiency for high-margin fillets, which account for 99.9% of export value under HS Code 030441.
• Monitor U.S. trade policy shifts: Track regulatory changes in Chile’s dominant market, where 48,000+ shipments indicate retail dependence on Just-in-Time supply chains.
• Brand Chilean fillets as premium: Leverage the $4.34/kg price premium to differentiate from commoditized product forms, reinforcing quality positioning.

Take Action Now —— Explore Chile Pacific Salmon HS Code 030441 Export Data

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is driving the recent changes in Chile Pacific Salmon Export in 2025?

The extreme volatility in Chile's Pacific Salmon exports stems from heavy reliance on the U.S. market (93.62% share), with demand fluctuations causing a 52% drop from April's peak to August's trough. Seasonal oversupply and price competition further amplified the swings.

Q2. Who are the main destination countries of Chile Pacific Salmon (HS Code 030441) in 2025?

The U.S. dominates with 93.62% of export value, followed by Mexico (1.52%) and Canada (1.28%). These three markets account for over 96% of Chile's Pacific Salmon shipments.

Q3. Why does the unit price differ across destination countries of Chile Pacific Salmon Export in 2025?

The price gap ($4.34/kg vs. $0.55/kg) reflects product specialization: premium fresh/chilled fillets (99.9% of value) command high prices, while lower-value forms are marginal in volume and revenue.

Q4. What should exporters in Chile focus on in the current Pacific Salmon export market?

Exporters must mitigate U.S. market dependence by diversifying to secondary markets while maintaining the high-quality fillet specialization that drives 99.9% of current export value.

Q5. What does this Chile Pacific Salmon export pattern mean for buyers in partner countries?

U.S. buyers benefit from stable, retail-driven shipments (48.22k transactions) with consistent pricing, but face supply risks from Chile's concentrated trade structure. Secondary markets have minimal leverage.

Q6. How is Pacific Salmon typically used in this trade flow?

Chile's exports are overwhelmingly (99%) fresh/chilled fillets for premium retail and foodservice consumption, with negligible volumes of lower-value processed forms.

Detailed Monthly and Quarterly Report

Chile HS Code 030441 Export Data Snapshot 2025 FEB

Chile HS Code 030441 Export Data Snapshot 2025 APR

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Chile HS Code 030441 Export Data Snapshot 2025 Q1

Chile HS Code 030441 Export Data Snapshot 2025 Q2