The Junta de Andalucía promotes the Andalusian agri-food sector in Latin America with a hybrid commercial mission in Chile

A market with record sales of 391 million

The Chilean country is the fourth destination market for food and beverage sales from Andalusia to Latin America, an area in which a record for agri-food exports was broken in 2022, with 391 million euros and a year-on-year increase of 4,5%.

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La Junta de Andalucía has promoted the Andalusian agri-food sector in Latin America with a hybrid commercial mission - in-person and online - for eight Andalusian firms, which have held up to 55 business meetings with the main local importers in the distribution sector in Chile.

 

The business meeting, organized by Andalucía TRADE, was held in Santiago de Chile, from June 5 to 9. With this action, Andalusia reinforces its market diversification strategy for a key sector for the community such as agri-food in Latin America, where it is the second largest exporting community, with 18,3% of national sales, only surpassed by Catalonia (28,6%). In addition, Andalucía It also registered a historical record of food and beverage exports to Chile in 2022 worth 28,4 million euros and with an increase of 11,5% compared to the previous year.

 

Chile, one of the most advanced countries in Latin America in per capita income second only to Uruguay. This economic development has influenced the consumption habits of Chileans, which has driven the increase in imports of food products. Furthermore, it is a market that, both in size and population, has a limited industry that makes it increasingly nourished by brands and products of the international agri-food sector.

 

According to Andalucía TRADE reports, it is worth noting that, although the national food and beverage industry is limited, there is high competitiveness in some products such as wine. Currently, Chile is a particularly interesting market for Andalusian firms with an offer that can be differentiated by price or innovation in products such as cheeses, canned vegetables, sweets and processed or healthy foods.

 

In this sense, and with the aim of strengthening the country's competitiveness and productivity, the Chilean government has developed a plan in collaboration with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) to improve four strategic sectors, among which is agri-food, whose purpose is for this area to become a healthier and more efficient market. This is, in this way, a favorable scenario for those Andalusian firms that develop their products in an eco-responsible environment.

 

Chile, the country where the commercial mission has been carried out, has a privileged position since it is the fourth Latin American market, with a total of 28 million euros, 7,3% of the total sales of this continental area, and a growth 11,5%

 

Seville, Córdoba, Granada, Jaén and Málaga in Chile

The trade mission has been developed in a hybrid format, both in person and online, so four companies have developed the agenda electronically, and the other four have traveled to SAntiago of Chile. All of them have held 55 top-level meetings with the main food importers and distributors in the country, both from the distribution sector and from the channel. Food & Drinks.

Andalusian firms have had the opportunity to present their offer and learn about the demands of the top purchasing managers of firms such as Cencosud, one of the strongest Chilean multinationals in the distribution sector, with a 23% market share, which operates in numerous countries on the continent and in the main supermarkets, such as Jumbo and Santa Isabel.

The Andalusian delegation that has participated in the mission is made up of a total of eight firms from Seville (Grupo Ybarra, Torres y Ribelles and Arasol), Córdoba (Covap, and Aceitunas Torrent), Málaga (Alsur), Granada (Robis) and Jaén (Carchelejo Sausages). All of them are dedicated to the production and marketing of olive oil, olives and pickles, dairy products, preserves, meat and sausages.

The organization of this action by Extenda will be co-financed with funds from the European Union through the FEDER OP of Andalusia 2014-2020, endowed with a community contribution of 80%, or any other European Program that may co-finance this action.

Latin America, opportunity market

Agri-food sales are increasingly diversified on the different continents, so the invoice in Latin America has increased by 4,5% compared to the previous year until reaching the figure of 391 million euros. Likewise, and thanks to these data, it has become the second largest exporting community, with 18,3% of national sales, only surpassed by Catalonia (28,6% of the total).

Chile, the country where the trade mission has been developed, has a privileged position since it is the fourth largest Latin American market, with a total of 28 million euros, 7,3% of total sales in this continental area, and a growth of 11,5%. Chile is only ahead in sales by Mexico (33% of the total), Brazil (18,3%) and Colombia (13%). Andalusia is the second largest exporting community to the Chilean market, with 13,8% of total exports, only behind Catalonia (36%).

Olive oil, first product for Latin America

The Latin American consumer demands more and more healthy Andalusian foods to incorporate into a balanced diet, so that the best-selling product in Andalusia in the geographical area is olive oil, with 200 million euros and an increase of 25%, which is part of the most exported chapter by the community in this period, fats and oils (221 million euros).