This was revealed by the preview of the Monthly Trade Report prepared by the Directorate of Studies of the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations (SUBREI).
Exports of services in Chile climbed to US$674 million during the first quarter of 2024, the highest figure for this period since there was a record and which represents an increase of 42.7% compared to January-March 2023.
This was revealed by the preview of the Monthly Trade Report prepared by the Directorate of Studies of the Undersecretary of International Economic Relations (SUBREI), with data from the Central Bank of Chile and the National Customs Service.
The analysis shows that the five most exported services were “maintenance and repair of airplanes, helicopters and other aerial devices” (US$ 110 million), “supply of headquarters ( hosting ) for websites and email” (US$ 62 .6 million), “technical support in Computing and Information Technology, via the Internet” (US$ 61.2 million), “design and development of information technology applications” (US$ 34.3 million) and “advice on information technology information” (US$ 28.6 million), which together generate 44% of the service exports of the period.
The report also indicates that other services with notable shipments were "original software design", "engineering for copper mining facilities", "filming of commercials", "R&D in chemistry and biology ” and “filming using animation techniques.”
The Undersecretary of International Economic Relations, Claudia Sanhueza, highlighted that the export of services not only grows in terms of value, “but we also see a strong increase in the number of services abroad, whether through delivery by digital means or via direct professional services.”
"Through services, the country's exportable offer adds value and diversifies. Our shipments today include online games, animation services, remote education, services applied to mining, agriculture, industry, architecture and banking, just to mention some of the multiple ways in which the creativity of national entrepreneurs reaches different corners of the world,” the authority added.
In the first quarter of 2024, service exports have been directed to 103 destinations, including the US (US$ 183 million), Peru (US$ 150 million), Colombia (US$ 47 million), Switzerland (US$ 34 million), Argentina (US$ 29 million), United Kingdom (US$ 24 million), Brazil (US$ 21 million) and Spain (US$ 19 million).
Exports of goods
In the first quarter of 2024, the country's exports of goods totaled US$ 24,650 million, registering a decrease of 4.8% (-US$ 1,233 million), due to the drop in foreign sales of copper cathodes, lithium and molybdenum oxide. However, despite the total decrease, shipments in several sectors stood out during the period.
Copper exports rose 4%, totaling US$ 10,929 million (+US$ 441 million), which is explained by the increase in shipments of copper concentrates; while shipments of fresh fruits in the first quarter totaled US$ 3,613 million, marking an increase of 10% compared to the same period in 2023 (+US$ 341 million), given an increase in returns in shipments of cherries, blueberries, plums and grapes.
The wine sector added sales abroad for US$ 368 million, closing the first quarter of the year with an increase of 3.4% compared to the same period in 2023 (+US$ 12.15 million). Both the bottled and bulk wine categories are growing, where blends with designation of origin and the varieties Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon, among others, stood out. Meanwhile, pulp shipments added sales abroad for US$ 703.8 million, recording an increase of 6% compared to the first three months of 2023 (+US$ 40 million).
By category, exports of traditional goods reached US$ 12,507 million in the first quarter, a decrease of 1.8% (-US$ 232 million), while non-traditional goods added operations for US$ 12,143 million in the period, recording a variation of -7.6% compared to the same months of 2023 (-US$ 1,002 million).
Despite the above, Chile exported a total of 3,514 different non-traditional products, recording increases in 1,975 of them (55% of the total). The most notable growth is shown by gold, fresh cherries, fresh blueberries, potassium nitrates, fresh nectarines, NKS fertilizers, frozen horse mackerel, inulin, dried plums, HG salmon, tomato purees, fresh nectarines, fresh plums, grape juices, laminated boards, frozen strawberries, peach pulp, deep sea cod, olive oil, deep sea cod, beers, quillay extracts, wool, oysters, delicacy and live bees.
