Chile Trade Surplus Narrows in April

Chile’s trade surplus narrowed to $1.9 billion in April 2026 from $2.1 billion a year earlier, as exports declined while imports continued to rise. Imports increased 11.8% year-on-year to $7.8 billion, driven mainly by a 12.5% rise in intermediate goods purchases. Imports of consumer goods rose 10.1%, while capital goods purchases increased 9.0%. Meanwhile, exports fell 5.6% to $9.7 billion, pressured by a 6.5% decline in mining shipments amid a 10% drop in copper exports. Industrial goods exports also decreased 5.4%, while agricultural, forestry, and fishing exports rose 2.7%.

Chile's trade surplus rose to $3.1 billion in March 2026 from $1.9 billion a year earlier. Exports rose 18% year-over-year to $10.3 billion, mainly driven by mining products at 24.8%, with copper shipments surging 14.1%. Other key contributors included lithium carbonate at 219.2% and gold at 139.1%. Industrial product sales rose 10.5%, while agricultural, forestry and fishing shipments fell 0.9%. Imports increased 5.8% to $7.2 billion, with intermediate goods purchases up 7.6%. Capital goods imports rose 6.2%, while consumer goods imports advanced 0.4%.

Chile’s trade surplus rose to $2.8 billion in February 2026 from $1.7 billion in the same month a year earlier. Exports climbed 15% year-on-year to $9.1 billion, mainly boosted by shipments of mining products (27.5%), including copper (16.3%). Other key contributors were lithium carbonate (up 264.3%), gold (143.8%), silver (131.2%), and iron (132.2%). Overseas sales also increased for manufactured products (5%) but declined for agricultural, forestry, and fishing goods (-21.8%). Meanwhile, imports rose by 2% to $6.3 billion, amid higher purchases of consumer goods (3.5%) and intermediate goods (1.1%).