LATAM Cargo has transported Chile’s first-ever salmon shipment of fresh, chilled salmon fillets to Australia.
The 220 kg shipment was transported in the bellyhold of a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft operating between Santiago and Melbourne on November 27.
The airline said that before the transport could take place, a “rigorous and extensive” audit process was conducted by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Service (Sernapesca), with support from the ministry of foreign affairs, ProChile.
“This audit ensured that the product met the stringent requirements of the Australian market, both in terms of sanitary controls and food safety,” the airline explained.
In late September, the Australian Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment (DAWE) officially recognised Chile as a country eligible to export processed salmonids, designating Sernapesca as the competent authority for sanitary and safety certification.
Natalia Arcos, international director of ProChile, said: “This achievement is crucial for our salmon exports as it opens up a market of over 26m people, offering significant potential for our products.
“Furthermore, it diversifies our export destinations and creates new opportunities for Chilean companies in the sector.”
Chile currently exports frozen and fresh salmon to 76 countries, with the main markets being the US, Brazil, Russia, China, and the European Union. In 2023, salmon exports exceeded $6bn, and this year, they have already reached $4.1bn.
Australia is already a destination for Chilean seafood products. In 2023, the most significant exports included fish oil (2,760 tons) and frozen bivalve mollusks (758 tons).
Claudio Torres, commercial director for South America at LATAM Cargo, added: “Today, we celebrate a historic milestone for the Chilean aquaculture industry: the first shipment of fresh salmon to Australia.
“At LATAM Cargo Group, we are committed to finding specialized solutions for our customers and adapting to their needs. This achievement is a testament to that commitment. We will continue working to create more opportunities for our customers and promote Chilean salmon worldwide.”