Economy: Chile
Key Facts
—Who. Banco Central de Chile, the central bank, which publishes the country’s monthly trade figures.
—What. Exports reached US$10,584 million in September, about 14% above a year earlier. Imports were US$8,537 million, up 13.5%.
—Where. Chile. Copper shipments were US$5,971 million, and copper was 52.5% of exports from January to September.
—When. Reported Wednesday 7 October 2026 for September. Nine-month exports are US$93,837 million.
—US link. The United States is one of Chile’s two largest trading partners, and copper is a key metal for US power grids and electric vehicles.
—As of. 7 October 2026, 23:00 GMT.
Chile’s exports rose to US$10.58 billion in September 2026, about 14% above a year earlier, according to central bank data reported on Wednesday 7 October. That lifts the nine-month total to US$93.8 billion, with the US$100 billion mark expected in October.
What We Know
Exports were US$10,584 million in September, up from US$9,499 million in August and about 14% above September 2025. Imports reached US$8,537 million, up 13.5% on the year, measured free on board (before freight and insurance).
Subtracting imports from exports gives a monthly surplus of about US$2,047 million, which is our own calculation. August’s surplus was about US$1,690 million.
Copper shipments were US$5,971 million, up about 14% on the year and 29.1% on August. The figures come from La Tercera’s reading of the central bank’s data.
The Nine-Month Picture
From January to September, exports totalled US$93,837 million, up 18.5%. That puts the US$100 billion mark within reach in October, according to La Tercera’s Pulso section.
Copper exports reached US$49,247 million in nine months, up 18.7%, and made up 52.5% of all exports. Other mining exports, which exclude copper, reached US$9,627 million, up 80%.
Mining as a whole brought in US$58,873 million, up 25.7%. By our calculation that is about 63% of all exports.
Imports in the nine months were US$68,116 million, up 6.5%, which left a trade surplus of US$25,721 million. That is 69.1% more than the US$15,208 million of a year earlier, and Pulso calculates it as the highest for a nine-month period since at least 2003.
Industrial exports were US$28,512 million, up 11.1%. Agriculture, forestry and fishing exports were US$6,452 million, down 2.9%.
Where the Monthly Gain Came From
Copper’s rise of about US$1.3 billion on August is larger than the whole US$1.1 billion rise in total exports. That is our own calculation from the published figures.
It follows that exports of all other goods fell by about US$260 million from August. Copper therefore explains the month, and the rest of the export basket did not add to it.
How to Read the Numbers
Export value is price multiplied by volume, so a rise can come from higher prices, more tonnes or both. The figures we read do not separate the two.
The value is also measured in current US dollars, which is how the central bank reports it. That means no currency conversion is needed for US readers.
Strong Exports, Weak Economy
The export gain sits beside a weaker domestic picture. Chile’s monthly activity index, the Imacec, fell 1% in August on a sharp drop in mining, according to Pauta.
In its September monetary policy report, the central bank cut its 2026 growth projection to a range of 0.25% to 0.75%, from 1.0% to 1.75%. That is a small expansion for an economy whose exports are on course for another record year.
We reported the earlier milestone in our July report on Chile’s US$60 billion half-year. That figure was a record for a first half.
What Is Not Known
The reports we read do not break September exports down by destination or by product beyond copper. That leaves open how much of the gain came from price and how much from volume.
The central bank’s own table was not reachable when we wrote, so the figures rest on La Tercera’s reading of it. We will not know whether the data are revised until the next monthly release.
What It Means for US Readers and Investors
Chile is the world’s largest copper producer by a wide margin, and the metal is central to its economy. Copper is used in electrical wiring, power grids and electric motors, which is why its price is watched in the United States.
A month with copper shipments up 29.1% on August shows that supply from Chile is flowing. That matters to US manufacturers and utilities that buy the metal.
Copper made up about half of Chile’s exports in the nine months, so a strong month tells US investors in miners and metals funds that Chilean mine revenue is running high. It does not by itself say anything about the profits of any one company.
For US readers who follow Chile as a trading partner, the surplus shows how much foreign currency the export sector is earning. The weak domestic data suggest the benefit is not yet reaching the wider economy.
More: Chile news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much did Chile export in September 2026?
Chile exported US$10,584 million, about 14% more than a year earlier, according to central bank data reported by La Tercera.
How big was Chile’s trade surplus?
Exports minus imports gives about US$2,047 million for September, our own calculation. From January to September the surplus was US$25,721 million, up 69.1%.
How much of Chile’s exports was copper?
Copper shipments were US$5,971 million in September and 52.5% of exports from January to September.
When will Chile pass US$100 billion in exports for 2026?
La Tercera’s Pulso section expects the mark to be passed in October, because exports stood at US$93,837 million after nine months.
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This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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