Chile Trade Surplus Widens in May

Chile’s trade surplus widened to $2.4 billion in May 2026 from $1.70 billion a year ealier. Exports grew 9.3% year-on-year to $9.5 billion, driven by higher sales of mining (14.7%), and industrial products (4.4%). The rise in mining exports was due to an increase of shipments of copper (8.7%), silver (204.2%), gold (38.1%), and lithium carbonate (163.7%). Industrial shipments rose on higher exports of chemical products (30.9%), basic metallic industry (47.8%), and metallic products, machinery and equipments (11.7%). In contrast, agricultural, forestry and fishing sales fell by 18.1%. Meanwhile, imports declined by 9%, down on lower purchases of consumer goods (-7.6%), intermediate goods (-9.2%), and capital goods (-7.3%).

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%.