Top Chile Imports 2023 Q3: Market Shift

Chile Import Portfolio Overview in 2023 Q3

• Mineral fuels and oils (HS 27) dominate at 19.69% of total imports ($4.31B), followed by machinery (HS 84) at 13.06% ($2.86B).
• Concentration risk is high: the top two sectors account for nearly one-third of all imports, reflecting Chile’s heavy reliance on external energy and capital goods.
• This structure aligns with Chile’s role as a resource-driven economy: it imports fuel and equipment to support its mining and export-oriented sectors.

Table: Chile Top Import Product in 2023 Q3 (Source: yTrade)

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Import Key Driver: Mineral Fuels and Oils

• The sector is driven by petroleum oils (HS 2710), representing 48.83% of the category ($2.11B).
• This is a raw material import, critical for transportation, energy generation, and industrial processes.
• Chile’s mining-intensive economy and limited domestic oil production create structural demand for imported fuels, despite local copper and lithium exports.

Table: HS Code 27 Detailed Breakdown

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Import Key Driver: Nuclear Reactors and Machinery

• The leading product is self-propelled bulldozers and graders (HS 8429) at 12.76% ($364.96M).
• This sector acts as a complement to fuel imports: machinery enables mining, construction, and infrastructure development.
• Strategic importance is high: these capital goods sustain Chile’s productive capacity and export competitiveness.

Table: HS Code 84 Detailed Breakdown

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Import Key Driver: Electrical Machinery and Equipment

• Telephones and communication devices (HS 8517) lead with 24.64% ($508.39M).
• This represents finished consumer and industrial goods, indicating demand for technology and connectivity.
• Its role is stable and growing: supports both domestic consumption and modernisation of Chile’s services and industrial base.

Table: HS Code 85 Detailed Breakdown

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Chile's largest import commodity in 2023 Q3?

The largest import category is Mineral fuels, mineral oils and products of their distillation (HS 27), valued at $4.31B. This sector is primarily driven by imports of Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (HS 2710), which alone accounted for 48.83% of the sector's total value.

Which specific Mineral fuels products does Chile import most in 2023 Q3?

Within the Mineral fuels sector, the top imports are Petroleum oils (HS 2710, $2.11B), Crude petroleum oils (HS 2709, $1.24B), and Petroleum gases (HS 2711, $658.45M), which together account for 92.88% of the sector's imports.

Does Chile import Nuclear reactors, boilers, and machinery in 2023 Q3?

Yes. Nuclear reactors, boilers, and machinery (HS 84) is the second-largest import sector, valued at $2.86B. The primary driver is Self-propelled bulldozers, graders, scrapers, etc. (HS 8429), which accounted for 12.76% of the sector's total value.

What are the main industries driving Chile's economy?

Chile's import economy is heavily reliant on three key sectors:

1. Mineral fuels (HS 27, $4.31B)
2. Nuclear reactors & machinery (HS 84, $2.86B)
3. Electrical machinery (HS 85, $2.06B)
   Together, these account for 42.17% of total imports, indicating a moderate concentration.

How to find Chile Mineral fuels buyers?

You can access a list of active overseas buyers and importers for Mineral fuels (HS 27) using the yTrade database, which provides detailed shipment records and company contacts.