Chilean trade totaled $68.662 billion between January 1 and July 31, 2020, a 14,1% drop compared to 2019, in the context of a retraction of imports, reported the National Customs Service.
The exports from Chile to the world experienced a decrease of 10,0%, with 39.643,9 million dollars. Meanwhile, the imports reached 31.227 billion dollars, falling by 18,1% compared to the period January-July of last year.
The development of foreign trade continues to be marked by the impact of the pandemic worldwide, slowing down the entire logistics chain during 2020, Customs said.
The Undersecretary of Finance, Francisco Moreno, stressed that "We will continue to promote, together with the National Customs Service, measures that contribute to foreign trade from the perspective of trade facilitation. Foreign trade must be one of the pillars of economic recovery during the second half of this year..
The National Director of Customs, José Ignacio Palma, he added that "We continue to develop our best efforts to secure the foreign trade logistics chain, reinforcing all contingency measures and evaluating the behavior of exports and imports on a daily basis to take the necessary actions to facilitate foreign trade. It is important to remember that our officials continue to work shifts 7 days a week at the main control points that remain open throughout Chile, such as sea and land ports, border crossings and the Santiago International Airport, among others.«.
It should be remembered that since February, the National Customs Service, together with the Undersecretariat of Finance and other public agencies, has taken a series of contingency measures to facilitate foreign trade, ensuring that sea, land and air ports continue to operate for the export and import of cargo, with special attention to the import of basic goods for citizens and critical medical supplies to combat Covid-19.
In addition, in all regions of Chile, Customs is constantly monitoring and analyzing the operation of foreign trade, facilitating processes and coordinating with all actors in the logistics chain through the Comex Tables, the municipalities, the regional ministerial secretariats of the economic area and business associations, among others.
Exports
Between January and July Part 2020 China remained the main buyer, reaching a share of 35,8% of the country's total exports, followed by United States (14,3%) and Japan (9,0%), meaning that 59,1% of total national sales were sent to these three destination countries. Shipments to China increased by 10,1% in terms of value, while in terms of cargo the exported quantity grew by 39,3%.
The exports of mining sector represented the 52,5% of the country's total sales, with 20.797 million dollars and a decrease of 3,6% compared to the same period of the previous year. Within the basket of these products, shipments of Copper minerals and their concentrates stood out, which had a share of 46,3% of the total sales of this sector, and registered a fall of 9,9%, compared to the same period of 2019.
El copper, ranked second with a 41,5% The share of mining products showed a positive variation of 0,7%, a figure equivalent to an increase in exports of 58 million dollars. It is also important to mention the 92,8% increase exhibited by iron ores and their concentrates.
The sales of non-mining sector totaled 18.847 billion dollars, and showed a decrease of 16,2% compared to the same period in 2019. In relation to the variations observed in these products, the decreases recorded by Grapes (-22,7%), Cherries (-7,3%), Salmon and trout (-11,6%), Cellulose (-27,8%) and Wood and its manufactures (-12,4) stood out.
While the increase was seen in Fishmeal (53,6%), Molluscs (30,0%) and the Other Foods group, where the positive variation of 10,0% was mainly caused by the growth of 42,7% and 48,8% in shipments of pork and beef, respectively.
In July alone, exports reached 5.533,5 billion dollars, 11,5% less than in the same month in 2019.
Imports
China It was positioned as the main seller with a 26,2% share of total imports, followed by United States (19,6%) and Brazil (7,4%). Imports of products from China to the country fell by 5,2%.
It is worth noting that in terms of cargo, the United States was the country of origin with the largest share (22,8%) of the total amount of merchandise acquired by the country, showing an increase of 3,7%, a figure equivalent to the import of 286.711 more tons.
Imports of the fuel sector represented 14,1% of the country's total purchases, with 4.409 million dollars, and a decrease of 32,5% compared to the same period in 2019. Within the basket of fuel products, the decrease observed in purchases of Diesel oil (-24,8%), Crude oil (-50,2%), Liquefied natural gas (-23,1%) and Coal (-16,0%) stood out.
imports of non-combustible products totaled 26.818 billion dollars, with a decrease of 15,1% compared to the period from January to July 2019. The increases in the acquisitions of Generating sets (82,3%) and Corn for consumption (22,0%); as well as decreases in imports of Vehicles for the transport of people (-50,4%), Televisions (-39,6%), Clothing and accessories (-34,1%), Footwear (-30,1%), and Cellular telephones (-13,7%).
The figures for the month of July alone reflect a 15,7% drop in imports compared to 2019, with purchases reaching $4.850,3 billion.
tax collection
The taxes collected by Customs during January and July 2020 totaled 6.870 million. The main one was the Value Added Tax (IVA), with 5.801 billion dollars, registering a participation level of 84,4%.
El specific tax on diesel oil, ranked second, with an 8,8% share in Customs collection, and showed an increase of 42,0% compared to the same period in 2019. In third place, with a 3,4% share, the Advalorem duty totaled 237 million dollars collected between January and July 2020.
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