Chile’s trade surplus widened sharply to $1.99 billion in July 2026, up from $297 million in the same month a year earlier, though it came in below market expectations of a $2.38 billion surplus.
Exports climbed 20.1% to $10.25 billion, led by a 29.1% increase in mining shipments, including a 22.7% rise in copper exports. Silver exports soared 166.4%, while gold and lithium carbonate shipments rose 73.3% and 134.5%, respectively. Exports of agricultural, forestry, and fishing products grew 15.6%, and industrial exports advanced 6%.
Imports inched up 0.2% to $8.26 billion. Purchases of consumer goods rose 6.3%, and imports of intermediate goods edged up 0.2%, while capital goods imports declined 6.1%. Within consumer goods, imports of motor vehicles, cellphones, meat, and computers increased by 49.7%, 32.6%, 34.4%, and 24.3%, respectively.
