Executives from Chile’s pork industry recently visited Japan and held a seminar for industry stakeholders in Tokyo on May 18, promoting expanded exports of Chilean pork to Japan.
At a press conference held that day, Juan Carlos Domínguez, President of the Chilean Pork Exporters Association (ChileCarne), explained: “It has been 26 years since we began exporting pork to Japan. During that time, we have built strong relationships with our partners. Japan is an extremely important market, and every year we exchange views with our partners on the latest conditions and ideas.”
Regarding the recent spread of African swine fever in European pork-producing countries, he emphasized: “Chile has not been affected. Sixty percent of Chilean pork is exported, and we strive to export through a sustainable approach without using antibiotics. We want to convey that we are a reliable partner.”
Andreas Takamiya, Asia Director at major pork supplier Agrosuper, was asked about the potential for Chilean pork to serve as a substitute for Spanish pork, whose exports to Japan were suspended last year because of African swine fever. He responded: “Spain is a huge producer, and Chile cannot match it. In terms of supplying the required volume, Brazil will likely be the key player.”
He added: “What Chile can do is meet needs in specific areas. The products we handle can satisfy more complex requirements than Spanish pork, such as special cuts and specific specifications.”
Regarding the impact of the Middle East situation, Jorge Rosas, Sales Director at Maxagro, explained: “It is affecting almost every country, but our business has not been affected from a logistics perspective. This is because we have secured long-term shipping contracts and direct export channels.”
Stuart Blett, CEO of Global AgriTrends, said: “Transformation is occurring in the Japanese market. There are increasing numbers of products targeting consumers who value convenience and added value, while also being sensitive to price.”
He further stated: “Chilean pork is seeking opportunities for differentiation in Japan and working to demonstrate its value to the market. We believe that it has been successfully differentiated from imported pork from other countries, including Brazil, Europe, and the United States.”
Last year, Chile produced 590,000 tonnes of pork, of which 328,000 tonnes were exported. Among the major Asian markets, Japan ranks second after China in terms of volume. In Japan, Chilean pork is often used primarily as an ingredient for processing, including in meat products.
Chile’s pork industry, in which vertically integrated businesses—from livestock-feed production through pork production and sales—are the mainstream, has introduced modern production systems incorporating stringent biosecurity measures. The country is focused on strengthening the international competitiveness of its export-oriented pork industry.
