Chile salmon industry bids to woo Australia

The Council’s agenda included combined meetings with retailers, importers, and authorities, reinforcing public-private partnerships in international trade and sustainability.

 

It was led by Pablo Barahona, the Salmon Council’s international director, who was accompanied by Juan Pablo Julio, director of ProChile in Australia.

 

ProChile is an international trade organisation, promoting the sale of Chilean goods worldwide.

 

Together, they visited the country’s main supermarkets: Woolworths, Coles, and ALDI, which account for approximately 70% of the Australian food market.

 

The objective was to gain firsthand knowledge of the current salmon offering in Australia and identify consumer trends in this market. Among the most notable products were fresh and smoked products, categories that reflect Australia’s appetite for healthy, high-quality foods.

 

During one presentation, the visitors and their delegates emphasised Chile’s commitment, as the world’s  second largest salmon producer, to future growth. They also stressed the country’s sustainable salmon farming and its responsible production, animal welfare, community initiatives.

 

Chilean salmon is sold worldwide, but it is relatively new for Australia. Only small sample consignments were sent out in 2024, but already this year more than 160 metric tons have been exported, mainly as fresh salmon and going by air.

 

The visitors pointed out that Chilean salmon now arrives in Australia within three days, the same time it takes local salmon to travel from Tasmania to Sydney by truck.

 

The Council said this is possible thanks to the relationship between Sernapesca and the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry, which has enabled the implementation of electronic certification for salmon exports, a recognition highly valued by Australian importers.