According to Fishfarmingexpert.com, until 2008, the US was the main market for Chilean salmon, basically for Atlantic salmon, worth close to $800 million. Back then, Japan was in the second position, importing Chilean salmon worth $716 million, but mainly Coho salmon.
However, in the first nine months of 2009 both markets ranking was reversed, and according to figures submitted by the National Customs Service, Chilean exports to USA decreased 24 per cent due to the ISA virus outbreaks’ effects.
Although Coho salmon exports to Japan did not increase in the period -and even decreased nine per cent in volume- they have been favoured by bigger prices as a consequence of the decreased wild fishing captures for that market.
Sales To Japan Mitigate Lower Exports To US
CHILE - The value of Chilean salmon exported to Japan has increased 16.8 per cent as of September compared with the same period of 2008, to $566 million. By contrast, shipments to USA decreased 24 per cent and sales to the EU declined by 38.5 per cent. Exports to other markets were also reduced by 22.8 per cent.
