First shipment of Chilean salmon exported to Australia with LATAM
Salmon was transported by LATAM Cargo on flight LA805, which departed from Santiago in the early morning of November 27.
A significant milestone has been reached for Chile's seafood industry as the country's first shipment of fresh, chilled salmon fillets arrived in Australia.
The 220-kilogram cargo, exported by two prominent Chilean companies, was transported by LATAM Cargo Group on flight LA805, which departed from Santiago in the early morning of November 27, says an official release from Latam.
"To achieve this milestone, a rigorous and extensive audit process was conducted by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca), with support from ProChile. This audit ensured that the product met the stringent requirements of the Australian market, both in terms of sanitary controls and food safety."
In late September, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) officially recognised Chile as a country eligible to export processed salmonids, designating Sernapesca as the competent authority for sanitary and safety certification, the release added.
Soledad Tapia Almonacid, National Director, Sernapesca says: "After a lengthy audit process of Sernapesca's inspection, control and certification systems across the entire salmon value chain, the successful completion of this first export to Australia is a testament to the hard work of the entire salmoniculture industry and our service as the competent authority for certification and export facilitation."
Natalia Arcos, International Director, ProChile adds: "This achievement is crucial for our salmon exports as it opens up a market of over 26 million people, offering significant potential for our products. Furthermore, it diversifies our export destinations and creates new opportunities for Chilean companies in the sector."
Mario Aguilera, Corporate Manager, Logistics and Commercial Operations, Camanchaca, one of the exporting companies says: "We hope this is the first of many shipments to Australia, a highly demanding market. This demonstrates Chile's capacity and potential to reach the most demanding markets with sustainable and healthy products."
Claudio Torres, Commercial Director, South America, LATAM Cargo adds: "Today, we celebrate a historic milestone for the Chilean aquaculture industry: the first shipment of fresh salmon to Australia. At Latam Cargo Group, we are committed to finding specialised solutions for our customers and adapting to their needs. This achievement is a testament to that commitment. We will continue working to create more opportunities for our customers and promote Chilean salmon worldwide."
Chile currently exports frozen and fresh salmon to 76 countries, with the main markets being the United States, Brazil, Russia, China, and the European Union. In 2023, salmon exports exceeded $6 billion, and this year, they have already reached $4.1 billion, the release added.
