Chile - United States Trade 2025 Q1: $380M Surplus
Key Market Takeaways: Chile - United States Trade
The bilateral trade relationship between Chile and United States shows robust growth with volatile demand in Q1 2025.
- Chile holds a $380M trade surplus, with exports ($4.52B) outpacing imports ($4.14B) amid strong YoY growth (up to +65.48% in March).
- Chile - United States trade statistics reveal a resource-for-tech exchange: Copper (42.25% of exports) fuels U.S. industry, while Chile relies on U.S. mineral fuels (43.32% of imports) for energy security.
- Highly complementary economies: Chile’s raw material exports support U.S. manufacturing, while U.S. machinery and energy exports reinforce Chile’s infrastructure.
This bilateral trade snapshot is based on verified customs data from the yTrade database.
Chile-United States Trade Trend in Q1 2025
Chile Export Performance: Shipments to United States
- Total Volume: $4.52B in Q1 2025.
- Growth Trend & Context: Strong YoY growth across all months (Jan: +21.91%, Feb: +41.56%, Mar: +65.48%), signaling robust demand. No specific news to explain the surge.
- Key Volatility: March saw the highest MoM growth (+16.46%) and YoY jump (+65.48%), indicating accelerating momentum.
Chile Import Performance: Sourcing from United States
- Total Volume: $4.14B in Q1 2025.
- Growth Trend & Context: Mixed YoY performance (Jan: +19.7%, Feb: -17.07%, Mar: +11.45%), reflecting demand volatility. No news to contextualize shifts.
- Key Volatility: February recorded the sharpest MoM drop (-32.89%) and YoY decline (-17.07%), suggesting a temporary demand contraction.
Chile - United States Trade Balance & Market Dynamics
- Net Position: Chile holds a trade surplus of $380M (Exports: $4.52B > Imports: $4.14B).
- Relationship Status: Chile maintains a net exporter role, with exports outpacing imports despite volatile import demand.
Chile Import Trend from United States 2025 Q1 (Source: yTrade)**
| Month | Value | MoM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.63B | 23.24% | 19.7% |
| Feb | 1.09B | -32.89% | -17.07% |
| Mar | 1.42B | 30.4% | 11.45% |
| Total | 4.14B | - | - |
Chile Export Trend to United States 2025 Q1 (Source: yTrade)**
| Month | Value | MoM | YoY |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 1.28B | -6.19% | 21.91% |
| Feb | 1.50B | 17.17% | 41.56% |
| Mar | 1.74B | 16.46% | 65.48% |
| Total | 4.52B | - | - |
Get Historical Chile United States Trade Records
Chile-United States Top Trading Products in Q1 2025
Chile Export Profile: What Does Chile Sell to United States
- Top Commodity: Copper (HS 74) dominates at 42.25% of total exports.
- Demand Driver: United States uses these for industrial processing, likely in construction and electronics manufacturing.
- Concentration: The top 3 exports (copper, edible fruit, fish) account for 74.66%, indicating high reliance on raw materials.
Chile Import Profile: What Does Chile Buy from United States
- Top Commodity: Mineral fuels (HS 27) lead at 43.32%, primarily oil and gas.
- Dependency Nature: Energy security dependency, as Chile lacks domestic hydrocarbon reserves.
Chile - United States Trade Relationship Dynamics
- The Exchange Model: Resource-for-Tech Complementarity. Chile supplies raw materials (copper, agricultural goods) in exchange for energy and machinery (HS 84, 85).
- Value Chain Position: United States holds higher value-add, exporting refined petroleum and advanced machinery while importing unprocessed commodities.
Import Analysis by Product: United States to Chile (Source: yTrade)
| HS Code | Value | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 27 | 1.79B | 43.32% |
| 84 | 571.22M | 13.79% |
| 87 | 319.02M | 7.70% |
| 85 | 180.73M | 4.36% |
| 28 | 125.62M | 3.03% |
| 39 | 119.27M | 2.88% |
| 90 | 111.83M | 2.70% |
| 30 | 96.00M | 2.32% |
| 40 | 91.29M | 2.20% |
| 29 | 73.15M | 1.77% |
Export Analysis by Product: Chile to United States (Source: yTrade)
| HS Code | Value | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | 1.91B | 42.25% |
| 08 | 782.26M | 17.31% |
| 03 | 682.36M | 15.10% |
| 44 | 265.66M | 5.88% |
| 71 | 156.94M | 3.47% |
| 28 | 88.13M | 1.95% |
| 40 | 83.47M | 1.85% |
| 02 | 45.87M | 1.01% |
| 84 | 43.22M | 0.96% |
| 25 | 42.11M | 0.93% |
Check Detailed Chile-United States Trade HS Code Breakdown
Future Outlook & Strategic Recommendations
Forecast
Chile’s trade surplus with the United States is poised to widen in Q2 2025, driven by sustained demand for copper and agricultural exports amid strong U.S. industrial activity. The energy import volatility from February is likely temporary, with mineral fuel purchases rebounding as Chile’s domestic energy needs stabilize. However, over-reliance on raw material exports leaves Chile vulnerable to commodity price swings—traders should anticipate tighter margins if global copper demand softens. The Chile - United States trade forecast remains bullish, but diversification is critical to mitigate concentration risks.
Strategic Moves
- Lock in Copper Contracts: With copper dominating exports, Chilean miners should secure long-term supply agreements to hedge against price volatility and capitalize on current U.S. demand.
- Diversify Energy Suppliers: Reduce dependency on U.S. mineral fuels by accelerating renewable energy investments and exploring LNG contracts with alternative partners like Australia or Qatar.
- Upgrade Export Value Chains: Process more copper domestically (e.g., wires, alloys) before export to capture higher margins and reduce exposure to raw commodity cycles.
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Chile - United States trade perform in 2025 Q1?
Chile's exports to the United States grew strongly YoY, reaching $4.52B, while imports totaled $4.14B, showing mixed YoY performance.
What are the top exports from Chile to United States?
Copper (HS 74), edible fruit, and fish dominate Chile's exports, accounting for 74.66% of total shipments to the United States.
What does Chile import from United States?
Mineral fuels (HS 27), primarily oil and gas, lead Chile's imports from the United States, reflecting energy security dependency.
What is the trade balance between Chile and United States?
Chile holds a trade surplus of $380M with the United States, maintaining its net exporter role despite volatile import demand.
Chile - United States Trade 2024 Q4: Robust Growth & Surplus
Chile's United States trade trend shows a $90M surplus, driven by copper exports and U.S. machinery imports. Explore Chile United States top trading products with yTrade data.
Chile Unrefined Copper HS740200 Export Data 2025 February Overview
Chile unrefined copper (HS Code 740200) export data shows China paid an 81% premium in Feb 2025, signaling strong demand but high buyer concentration risk, per yTrade.
