Chile’s trade surplus widened to $1.69 billion in August 2026 from $1.55 billion in the same month a year earlier, though it marked the smallest surplus since August 2025. Exports increased 11.8% to $9.5 billion, led by a 9.5% rise in mining shipments—particularly sharp gains in gold (192.2%) and lithium (207.5%)—and a 15% increase in industrial exports, driven by basic metals (28.2%) and metal products, machinery, and equipment (32.8%).
Imports climbed 12.5% to $7.8 billion, reflecting stronger demand for consumer goods (up 16.5%), especially vehicles (70.7%), and for intermediate goods (up 20.5%), with notable jumps in energy imports such as oil (120.5%, compared with a 7.1% decline in July) and diesel (63.2%, versus an 18.3% drop previously). By contrast, imports of capital goods fell 6.3%.
