en.Wedoany.com Reported - Ignacio Fernández, General Manager of the Chilean Export Promotion Bureau (ProChile), recently visited Chiloé, venturing into the core mussel farming area to conduct an on-site inspection of the entire industry chain for Chilean mussels, from production to export. This industry is a key export sector for the Los Lagos Region and southern Chile, with products reaching over 70 markets across the Americas, Europe, and Asia.
After meeting with the industry association AmiChile in Castro, Fernández traveled to Dalcahue to visit the Sudmaris processing plant, where he learned about the industrial processing of mussels. He subsequently visited the Pesquera Apiao farming center, owned by St. Andrews, to observe the production and harvesting stages. Both companies export mussel products to various international markets.
Fernández stated that Chiloé concentrates the majority of Chile's mussel production, and the field visit covered the entire process from harvesting to frozen export, also revealing the industry's technological level, its contribution to employment, and the effort behind it. ProChile will continue to support the growth of mussel exports through industry branding and the opening of new markets.
According to ProChile research based on data from the Chilean National Customs Service, Chile's total mussel exports reached US$297 million in 2025, ranking fourth within the fisheries and aquaculture category, behind salmon and trout, fishmeal, and jack mackerel. The main export destinations are Spain, the United States, Russia, Italy, and France.
Currently, ProChile, together with AmiChile and industry companies, is promoting the "Chile Mussel from Patagonia" industry brand project, focusing primarily on the Mexican market, aiming to enhance the international standing of Chilean mussels in markets with high growth potential. Sudmaris Commercial Manager José Undurraga pointed out that the brand project is conducting commercial promotion activities in Mexico, and ProChile's support is crucial for the international positioning of mussels.
AmiChile Executive Director Rodrigo Carrasco believes that such visits help strengthen public-private collaboration, continuously consolidating the position of Chiloé and southern Chile as a global benchmark for the mussel industry. St. Andrews Regional Manager Eduardo Ferrari stated that it is necessary for authorities to understand the seeding, harvesting, and production stages on the ground, and that the current high demand in international markets presents significant opportunities for the industry. Ricardo Arriagada, Regional Director of ProChile for Los Lagos, emphasized that mussel farming is extremely important for both the Los Lagos Region and Chile as a whole. As a major global exporter, this industry creates jobs, drives regional development, and brings high-value products to the world.
The visit concluded with a tour of a farming center, during which production challenges and the current situation of the industry's international markets were discussed.
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