A country's exports are better understood when you can see the overall economy's exports. In this article, we will examine the top five export products from India and the current market conditions for each export category.
As a member of the Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC) economies, India is emerging as a significant player in the global and national markets. It is currently the 17th largest exporting economy in the world. This status gives India the foothold it needs to remain competitive in international trade.
India's exports have seen impressive growth over the past five years - an annual rate of 1.2% - which created a negative trade balance of $125B in 2017. According to the OEC, India's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is $2,6T while GDP per capita in 2017 was $7,06K.
What does India export?
India's main exports (currency shown in US dollars) include:
Refined Petroleum ($30.2B)
Diamond ($26.5B)
Packaged Drugs ($13.2B)
Jewelry {$8.66B)
Rice ($7.05B)
As you can see, refined oil accounts for a large portion of India's main exports. In fact, it accounted for 10.3% of the country's total exports, closely followed by diamonds at 9.1%.
Some thoughts and reflections on India's main exports
Many initiatives are aimed at increasing India's major exports and major imports. Government efforts, planning and strategies have largely contributed directly to overall growth, and the world has taken note of India as a true economic powerhouse.
Government benefits include export programs, financial assistance and other state-mandated benefits provided by the Indian government to its economy. So far, everything is heading in the right direction, including increasing exports for the foreseeable future.
Although India is one of the largest economies in the world, it is interesting that the government has created an economic platform that encourages progress in India. Away from the country's developing external environment, India is using its unique market position to compete in a rapidly globalized network of global exporters.
All in all, India also has a robust economic approach to responding to unexpected external forces. Its main exports are viable, limited natural resources, or they align with current demand for retail products around the world. In short, India's efforts to actively manage its imports and exports are paying off, making it a smart choice for international business.
Despite the current uncertainty surrounding the trade relationship between the U.S. and China, the Asian giant remains the largest importer of U.S. goods on the other side of the Pacific.
China accounts for 11% of total U.S. exports.
That may not seem like much, but it's certainly impressive considering its neighbors Japan and South Korea account for only 5.3% and 3.9% of U.S. exports, respectively - their combined share is still lower than China's share.
The product categories that the U.S. exports the most to China include transportation (21 percent), machinery (19 percent), and vegetable products (11 percent). Here's a breakdown of each category.
Tips for Shipping to China
As a booming economy, China certainly has many business opportunities. However, there are certain aspects of shippingto China that you should keep in mind to ensure a seamless shipping process.
1. Keep abreast of trade war developments
As the U.S.-China trade war continues and signs of volatility in its outcome, it's important to keep an eye on the news. This will allow you to anticipate any increases in responsibilities and better prepare you for them.
The tit-for-tat tariff increase is a problem for shippers on both sides. Even though the tariff hike may not target the products you're shippingto China, and it won't directly affect you, it may affect shipping capacity and rates, which can directly affect your supply chain.
2. Check your calendar
If you are an inexperienced shipper, it may interest you that for two full weeks throughout the calendar year, port and logistics activity in China is almost completely stopped.
These are called Golden Weeks. The first occurs at the beginning of the year, usually in January or February, to celebrate the Lunar New Year. The second Golden Week commemorates China's National Day and takes place in the first week of October.
During this period, it is not possible to transport goods into or out of the country. Note that the weeks around Golden Week could also be problematic due to the import and export boom before the country shut down, and the time it would take to recover once operations resume.
3. Familiar with special economic zones
China currently has 12 Special Economic Zones (SEZs) that U.S. exporters should take advantage of if they are not already doing so, as doing business in China can be particularly complex.
These special zones allow goods to be processed (stored, manufactured, re-exported) without paying import duties and taxes and are part of the reforms set up by the Chinese government to open up the Chinese economy. It also speeds up the customs clearance process, adding more flexibility to your supply chain.
In addition, these SEZs are mostly located along the coast to facilitate the movement of goods in and out of China's many shippingports.
Trying to navigate China's importregulations can be very frustrating, especially if you're not familiar with the language. It also doesn't help that the information can be very contradictory depending on where you get it from.
To avoid complications, we recommend that you always book your ocean freight servicesto China with a reputable forwarderwho has extensive experience and a proven track record on the specific route you are interested in.
Not only will they be able to properly guide you through China-specific importregulations, but they can also advise you on prohibited items and help you with the paperwork you need to avoid customs issues.
5. Check if your shipment needs CCC
The China Compulsory Certification (CCC) mark, as the name suggests, is a compulsory certification for more than 132 products (including auto parts, medical equipment, electrical equipment, etc.) imported into China.
The CCC mark is China's quality control method, and it is estimated that one-fifth of US exports to China require the CCC mark. Any lack of the CCC mark may result in the goods being held by customs or returned to the shipper at origin and subject to heavy fines.
Before exporting, please make an effort to check whether your goods require CCC. Please note that applications for the CCC mark may take up to 90 days or more to process.
Also, always keep in mind that no matter where you're shippingto, there are certain steps you absolutely must take if you're dealing with hazardous materials.
As one of the most important emerging markets in the world, opportunities to do business with India abound.
Imported from India: Top products imported by global buyers
In 2017, the South Asian country exported $292 billion worth of goods, with chemicals, precious metals and textiles being its top three exports. These goods accounted for 14%, 13% and 13% of India's imports, respectively, and 40% of all imports.
Tips to help you import from India to the US
The potential to do business, grow and scale in India is certainly something American buyers are not only aware of, but also capitalizing on.
The United States is currently India's largest trading partner, with some $51.6 billion worth of Indian exports being sold to the United States across nearly half the world. This accounted for 16% of India's total exports, more than the combined value of goods exported to India's second and third largest trading partners, the United Arab Emirates (9%) and China (5.1%), respectively.
Among India's imports to the US, chemicals, precious metals and textiles accounted for more than half of the total value of India's importsto the US, respectively 20%, 19% and 16%.
As a shipper looking to importfrom India, here are five things to know.
1. Familiarize yourself with "interstate taxes"
The Indian government imposes so-called "interstate taxes" on goods shipped from one state to another (there are 29 states in India). So, if your cargo needs to be transported from the hinterland to the port, keep in mind that interstate taxes will apply.
Whether this will be borne by you or the shipper will depend on the Incoterm selected.
2. Review your suppliers
While unreliable suppliers from anywhere in the world are often encountered, India has a reputation for questionable business ethics. When choosing a supplier from India, it doesn't hurt to go the extra mile to vet them.
You can do this by calling them instead of dealing with them via email. You may also want to consider traveling there yourself if your business expenses allow it. Requesting product samples is also a great way to ensure you are dealing with a reliable supplier.
3. Take advantage of its low manufacturing costs
Due to the relatively low cost of manufacturing in India, you may want to consider sourcing more from India rather than other manufacturers or sellers closer to home.
Even accounting for shippingcosts, the total cost of importing from India to the U.S. may still be lower than producing the product domestically.
4. Book your shipment in advance and ship it by rail if possible
Logistics in India can be a nightmare. This is thanks to traffic congestion in Mumbai, home to the country's largest port, Jawaharlal Nehru Port. It is not uncommon for trucks to fail to reach the port in time due to traffic jams.
As a workaround, you should always book shipments at least two weeks in advance. If ground transportation is required, consider choosing rail instead of truck to avoid road congestion.
5. Language is not a barrier
Shippers looking to importfrom India will be happy to know that although Hindi is the most widely spoken language in the country, English is generally considered the language in which business transactions are conducted in India.
This will help facilitate communication and avoid misunderstandings.
The UK is the world's fifth largest economy and tenth largest exporting economy and has a lot to offer.
The country's latest trade figures show that UK merchandise exports rose by around $5.57 billion in the third quarter of 2019 to $116 billion, up 5% from the previous quarter. GDP growth also rebounded slightly to 0.3% in the third quarter from a contraction of 0.2% in the second quarter.
With such potential, the UK remains an attractive trading market. Here's what you need to know if you want to import from the UK.
Imported from the UK: Top products imported by global buyers
Machinery, transport and chemicals are the top three UK imports. They account for 21%, 18% and 15% of UK importsrespectively, and more than half of all imports.
Tips to help you import from the UK to the US
The US is the largest importer of UK products, with imports totalling $45.2 billion in 2017. As with overall exports, the top three product categories that most U.S. buyers import from the U.K. are transportation (26%), machinery (19%), and chemicals (18%).
Given the high demand for UK products in the US, it is important to understand how to handle and process products imported from the UK into the US.
Whether you're an experienced shipper or not, here are four things to keep in mind when importing from the UK to the US.
1. Correctly obtain the tariff code
The UK uses six-digit tariff codes, also known as commodity codes or HS (Harmonized System) codes, to classify its goods. Note that this is different from the US, which uses a more specific variant of the HS code, commonly known as the HTS (Harmonized Tariff Schedule) code.
HS codes or HTS codes, these codes classify goods into different categories upon which import duties and taxes are calculated.
The cargo code used on the import document must match the importing country's cargo code. Therefore, if you are importing from the UK to the US, you must list the corresponding HTS code of seven to ten digits. To find HTS codes, visit the US International Trade Commission's website.
2. Book your shipment at least two weeks in advance to avoid trucking issues in both countries
Both the UK and the US are currently facing trucking shortages. While the U.S. continues to adapt to ELD mandates, the situation appears to be improving. Cargopressure has eased since the slump in the first half of 2018.
On the other hand, the situation is expected to worsen after Brexit. Its trucking industry relies heavily on drivers from Eastern Europe, and leaving the European Union means cutting off access for those drivers. Experts say this will lead to increased costs, delays and reduced flexibility.
To prepare, shippers should consider booking shipments at least two or even three weeks in advance to avoid potential delays and problems.
3. Obtain proper legal advice before contracting with your UK exporter
To avoid complications, it is important to understand the rules and regulations of your importing country. This is no different from importing from the UK. While language and communication are not an issue, there may still be bureaucratic barriers and country-specific administrative issues that could hinder imports from the UK.
Before entering into a contract with your UK seller, make sure to have your agreement reviewed by a lawyer familiar with UK and US law.
Below is a list of UK lawyers based in the US published by the UK government. The US embassy in the UK also has its list of US lawyers in the UK.
Value Added Tax (VAT) is a sales tax that applies to goods and services sold within the European Union. VAT should not be levied on exports to countries outside the EU.
That said, make sure your seller doesn't charge you VAT when importing from the UK. Check your commercial invoice, which should reflect the price and shipping costs of your imported goods. Based on these numbers, U.S. Customswill determine the import duties and taxes due.
What are Australia's main import and export commodities?
According to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), Australia exports $234 billion in goods, making it the 20th largest exporting economy in the world. As a desert continent, Australia relies heavily on the coastal economy as a source of income to maintain its population.
Australia is also regarded by ECI as the world's 22nd largest importer, with total annual imports of $199 billion. However, this figure is the result of a steady decline in imports over the past five years. In terms of wealth per capita, Australia is the second richest country after Switzerland.
What does Australia export?
Australia's main export is iron ore, followed by coal, gold and oil, the other most valuable exports. These exports alone amounted to $48.2 billion, $47 billion, $29.1 billion and $20.3 billion, respectively. Of course, the country also ships other notable items, including food, wine, and cars.
What does Australia import?
In 2018, Australia imported about $227.3 billion worth of goods from around the world. The country's imports account for only 1.3 percent of total global imports, estimated at around $17.788 trillion. Oil and crude oil and cars appear to be Australia's main imports.
Australia's largest importsalone were valued at about $187.5 billion, equivalent to 82.5% of its total imports. Other notable growth in Australia's imports include furniture, bedding, lighting, signage, prefabricated buildings, plastics and plastic products.
Australia is known for its uninterrupted annual economic growth, growing steadily at around 3% per year. Its strong economy is largely due to deep trade ties with the Asian region and its largest iron ore export, accounting for more than 30% of the world's iron ore supply.
Spain does a lot of business with Germany, France and Italy as its main trading partners in Europe and the US. France is the biggest beneficiary of Spanish exports, accounting for 15.3% of the country's total merchandise exports.
The European country happens to be the 16th largest exporting economy in the world. Below are some of its major exports and imports.
Main import
Crude
Spain's crude oil importshave been growing since the 1980s. By December 2018, the country reported importing 1,364 barrels of oil per day, a record high. The record low for Spanish crude oil imports was in 1984, when it imported 825 barrels per day.
In Europe, Spain is the sixth largest energy consumer, but they have no domestic production of natural gas or liquid fuels. Since the country's oil resources are insignificant, they have to import all their oil from countries like Nigeria, Mexico, Russia, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The country relies on 46% of liquid fuels to maintain its energy consumption needs.
They spend as much as $23 billion on crude oil.
Steel
Spain is the 14th largest steel importer in the world. In 2018, the country imported nearly 11 million tonnes of steel. Many industries in Spain rely heavily on steel, such as automobile manufacturing and weapons manufacturing, and Spain needs to import a large amount of steel to meet demand.
Spain has been shipping steel for centuries, ever since it emerged as a serious contender in making weapons for various armies.
Apparel and Textiles
The preferred partners for Spanish textile imports are China, Morocco, Portugal, Bangladesh and Turkey. As the sixth largest importer of textiles in the world, the country's imports have seen significant growth over the past few years.
Designers are looking for a variety of fabrics when creating designs and growing the industry. This leads to a search for more fabrics to meet demand, especially if the fabrics are popular. These markets are outstanding because of the versatility of their trade zones.
Main export
Auto and Auto Parts/Accessories
Automobiles are an important part of Spain's export portfolio. The country's auto exports make it the eighth-largest auto producer in the world. It is actually second only to Germany. As of 2016, Spain sold 2.8 million vehicles worldwide, and in 2019 Spain's passenger car revenue to the US exceeded 36 million.
Spain produces a variety of models from its factories, including Nissan, Seat, Ford, Renault, Volkswagen, Opel, Mercedes-Benz and Peugeot Citroen. All of these cars are built in different cities in Spain, including Barcelona, Vigo, Figueluelas and Martorell. Nine out of ten cars produced in Spain are exported to more than 130 countries.
Their auto parts and accessories are the sixth most used in the world. In fact, Spain's auto industry accounts for 10% of the country's GDP.
Refined petroleum
Spain imports crude oil and develops refined petroleum products from its refineries, which are then exported. In the 1980s, Spain began exporting more than 10 million tons of refined petroleum products annually. Refinery capacity in Spain can hold 1,000 barrels per day. Some of these products include refined petroleum products such as fuel oil, gas oil, lubricating oil, kerosene and bitumen, among others.
Drug
Spain is famous for its medicines and medicines. Spain's top pharmaceutical companies have been among the largest exporters in Spain, and as the Spanish economy has grown, their export capacity has begun to be reborn. Companies like GlaxoSmithKline have a 3.8% market share in the pharmaceutical industry. Xinfa, Bayer, Johnson & Johnson and Sanofi-Aventis are other huge market players in Spain.
Spain made a big payoff in 2018, becoming one of the European countries that shipped large quantities of medicines and medicines around the world, selling medicines worth $9 billion. In the first half of 2019, the revenue of pharmaceutical companies continued to grow.
Olive oil
In terms of export commodities, olive oil is one of Spain's largest earners. It is the country's main agricultural export. Demand for Spanish olive oil remains strong, with the olive oil export industry generating more than 2 billion euros for the country as of May 2018.
Spain remains the world's leading olive oil exporter, with most of its production coming from the country's Andalusian region. More than 500 companies in the region export olive oil, accounting for half of the total olive oil-producing land in the EU.
Despite the fierce competition among olive oil producers in Morocco and Tunisia, Spain remains the king of olive oil production in the world.
These are just some of the main exports and importsthat Spain has a vested interest in. As Spain continues to maintain its status as one of Europe's largest economies, its importand export behavior may remain predictable, as its economic fundamentals are increasingly solid, supported by all countries. The same investment pillars.
Whether by air or sea, Canada is one of the major trade destinations. Stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, this North American country has three territories and ten provinces. It even turned northward towards the Arctic Ocean.
Not only is Canada famous for its maple syrup, but it also covers two-fifths of the North American continent. As it borders several waterfronts, it has some of the most efficient and modern ports in the world.
1. Port of Vancouver
The port is overseen by the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority and is the largest port in the country. In North America, it ranks third in tonnage capacity. As a major port for facilitating trade between the country and other world economies due to its strategic positioning between different maritime trade routes and river fishing lanes. It is served by an intricate network of interstate highways and railroads.
The port handles the country's total cargo volume of more than 76 million tons, roughly equivalent to more than $43 billion in imports and exports from global trading partners. The port has 25 container, bulk and bulk terminals that directly provide employment to more than 30,000 individuals working in maritime cargo, shipbuilding and repair, the cruise industry and other non-maritime businesses. Theocean freight sector is the port's largest revenue generator and employer, followed by the cruise industry.
Vancouver is the base port for the Vancouver-Alaska cruise ship. In 2019, the port hosted more than 1 million cruise passengers on 288 cruise ships, a 22% increase in passenger traffic compared to the previous year. The city's net income per cruise ship is approximately $3 million.
2. Port of Montreal
Located on the St. Lawrence River fairway, the port has had a huge impact on the economies of Quebec and Montreal. This is because it is located on the shortest direct trade route between North America, the Mediterranean region and Europe.
The use of some of the latest technologies ensures the efficiency of the port. They're just starting to use AI-powered intelligence to predict the best times for drivers to pick up or drop off. In addition, they have secured funding to build a fifth container terminal, giving the port a larger capacity than the current annual capacity of at least 1.45 million TEUs. With the new terminal, the port is expected to be able to handle 2.1 million TEUs. The port handles more than 35 million tons of cargo annually.
3. Prince Rupert
Prince Rupert was built as an alternative to the Port of Vancouver, and it has a huge impact on the global market. It efficiently operates export products such as wheat and barley through its food production terminal, Prince Rupert grain. The terminal is one of the most modern grain facilities in Canada, handling more than 7 million tons of grain per year. It also has a storage capacity of over 200,000 tons. It serves the North African, American and Middle Eastern markets.
The Westview terminal handles the port's timber exports, which go to European markets, while the Ridley Coal Terminal exports metallurgical coal for steelmaking in Asian economies. This is the port of call when exporting most of Canada's natural resources. It is connected to mines, forests and fields within Canada, and the port is able to handle bulk cargo from inland Alberta, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, effectively preventing cargocongestion at another port and unnecessary export delays.
4. Port of Halifax
Connected to 150 economies around the world, the port is the epitome of efficiency, and its self-imposed deadlines help it move cargo quickly, while still maintaining a high level of professionalism. The port plans to be able to handle two large ships simultaneously when the container berths will be fully expanded by March 2020. Container traffic on Canada's east coast, where the port is located, tripled, meaning the port had to expand to accommodate traffic and take advantage of the influx.
The port is strategically located at the gateway for the movement of goods in and out of North America. Perhaps its greatest advantage is that it is an ice-free port and a deep-water port with few tides, so it can operate comfortably year-round. It is one of the four largest container ports in Canada capable of handling large volumes of cargo. It has facilities for oil, grain, gas, general cargo and shipbuilding and repair shops. In addition to handling general cargo, ro/ro and bulk cargo, it also welcomes cruise ships. It has become the world's leading port of call for cruise ships.
5. Port St. John
Located in the east of the country, this port is the largest port in the region. It handles bulk, breakbulk, liquid cargo, dry cargo and containers. The port can handle around 28 million tons of cargo, and connections to 500 other ports around the world make it a major facilitator of commerce in the country.
The Port of St. John's has excellent connections to Canada's inland markets by road and rail, as well as a popular cruise terminal. They also have terminals that cater to crude oil, scrap metal recycling, molasses and other commodities and products.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity (OEC), Argentina has the 45th largest exporting economy in the world. In 2018, Argentina became the 29th largest importer of consumer goods to the United States, exporting goods worth $61.6 billion to the world. Considering that Argentina's economy in the late 90s was very unstable due to the country's rising debt and inflation, it's safe to say they did well.
Main export
The South American country is one of the world's leading producers of crops - accounting for 54 percent of its exports - making crops Argentina's main export. These crops include wheat, soybeans, corn, barley, rice, flaxseed, sugarcane, cotton, citrus fruits and grapes. Argentina is actually the fifth largest wheat producer and exporter in the world.
At least 31 percent of their total exports include manufactured goods. This will include cars, auto parts, steel, aluminum and chemicals. The country produces about 818,000 barrels of crude oil per day, and in Santa Cruz alone, an estimated 552 million tons of coal exist in mineral form.
In 2018, Argentina imported about $65.4 billion worth of goods from around the world. Overall, about a third of imports come from neighboring Latin American countries, including the Caribbean. Considering their population of 44.7 million, their total import volume equates to an annual product demand of $1,500.
Below is a list of Argentina's most important imports and values:
Automobiles ($13.2 billion - 19.8% of its total imports)
Machinery ($9.9 billion - 14.9% of total imports)
Electrical equipment ($8.6 billion - 12.9% of its total imports)
Fossil fuels/petroleum ($5.5 billion - 8.2% of its total imports)
Plastics ($2.4 billion - 3.6% of its total imports)
Pharmaceuticals ($2.4 billion - 3.6% of its total imports)
Organic chemicals ($2.3 billion - 3.5% of its total imports)
Medical equipment ($1.8 billion - 2.7% of total imports)
Other chemical products ($1.4 billion - 2.3% of its total imports)
Steel ($1.3 billion - 1.9% of total imports)
Argentina also importsfrom Bolivia, Thailand, Japan, India, Italy, Spain, and France, accounting for 1.9%, 1.9%, 1.6%, 1.2%, 2.5%, 2.2% and 2% of the source of imports, respectively. Argentina is the world's 42nd largest importer, and as a major player in the global trade economy, the country continues to impress in terms of its size and geographic location in terms of export volumes.
Chile's economy is considered one of the most stable in South America. It also has the highest gross domestic product (GDP) per capita in all of Latin America. According to the Economic Complexity Index (ECI), Chile's economy is the 61st most complex in the world. It also happens to be the 42nd largest economy in the world.
Now let's look at Chile's importsand exports separately.
Machinery accounted for nearly a quarter of total imports, thus reaching $15.2 billion. Under this sector, the most imported goods include computers, video monitors, broadcasting equipment, accounting for 1.8%, 1.2% and 2%, respectively.
Apart from machinery, the most imported commodities are minerals and means of transport. In fact, the three major categories of products imported by Chile are crude oil ($5.43 billion, accounting for 7.9%), refined oil ($5.33 billion, accounting for 7.7%) and automobiles ($3.8 billion, accounting for 5.5%).
Chile's top three import partners are China, the United States and Brazil. China accounted for 21% with $14.8 billion, the United States accounted for 20% with $14.0 billion, and finally, Brazil accounted for 7.7% with $5.31 billion. Crude oil is Chile's largest import item, supplied by Brazil (43%), Ecuador (36%) and Angola (6.4%).
Refined petroleum is Chile's second largest import.
About 90%, mainly supplied by the United States. After the United States, the next two largest suppliers of refined oil are Japan (4.5%) and the Netherlands (1.4%).
Automobiles are Chile's third-largest imported commodity, accounting for 5.5% of total imports. The top three countries supplying cars to Chile are South Korea (26%), Japan (22%) and the United States (10%).
Main export
Metals are Chile's largest export category
reached $23.2 billion, nearly a third of all exports. In this category, the three products with the largest export volume include refined copper, raw copper and copper wire, which accounted for 23%, 3.8% and 0.7% respectively.
The two largest categories of exports are minerals and vegetables
$20.5 billion and $7.43 billion, respectively. Copper ore is the second largest export commodity. It belongs to the minerals category and accounts for 21% of all Chilean exports.
Chile's top three export partners
They are China ($18.9 billion, or 25%), the United States ($9.3 billion, or 12%), and Japan ($7.81 billion, or 10%). Together, these three countries imported 47 percent of Chile's exports. %.
Chile happens to be the largest importer of refined copper, followed by the United States. On the other hand, copper ore is imported from Japan and China. In addition to copper ore and refined copper, raw copper ($1.23 billion) and kraft chemical wood pulp ($1.17 billion) are two other commodities that Chile imports.
The United States is China's second largest importer, responsible for importing fish fillets ($1.38 billion) and grapes ($694 million). Non-fillet frozen fish ($615 million) and fillets ($452 million) were the second and third largest exports to Japan.
Add up
While Chile's top sources of importsare China ($15.4 billion), the United States ($11.5 billion), Brazil ($5.32 billion), Argentina ($2.77 billion) and Germany ($2.63 billion), the top export destinations include China ($19.2 billion), the United States ($10.3 billion), Japan ($6.38 billion), South Korea ($4.06 billion) and Brazil ($3.44 billion).
Items that fall into its importcategory are automobiles, refined oil, crude oil, broadcast equipment and delivery trucks. In terms of export items, according to the 1992 revised HS (Harmonized System) classification, there are refined copper, copper ore, fish fillets, kraft chemical wood pulp and blister copper.
Chile is located at the southernmost tip of South America and winds its way up the west coast of the continent. Economically, Chile is located on the Pacific Ocean and is a hotspot for international trade. It also helps that Chile is the world's No. 1 copper exporter - demand for copper is at an all-time high.
Introduction of the five largest ports in Chile
1. Port of Valparaiso
The city of Valparaiso is a cultural and architectural treasure, featuring incredibly steep hills, beautifully decorated houses and streets filled with one-of-a-kind artworks. In fact, the city is considered Chile's "Cultural Capital" and its historic district was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003.
Pass through the maze of cobblestone alleys and you'll find the port of Valparaiso. The port is located just 140 kilometers from Santiago, on the central coast of Chile. Valparaiso is one of the busiest ports in Chile, as it is an important cultural center and a major trade center. It is also the largest container port in the country. It doesn't hurt to have majestic mountains overlooking the coast, either.
2. Port of San Antonio
As one of the largest ports in Chile, San Antonio is ranked as the 13th busiest port in South America. The city itself has a Mediterranean climate and endless green hills. Being so close to the Chilean capital, San Antonio also has beautiful and modern high-rises that overlook the Pacific Ocean without getting too close. (If you can imagine Miami but with hills, you'll get a good idea of what the city looks like).
Located in one of Chile's central seaports, this port is very close to the capital and is known as a major seafood trading area.
3. Puerto Punta Arenas
The city of Punta Arenas is located in the center of Patagonia. With its snow-capped mountain landscape, modern architecture and old-school urban vibe, the city has been a timeless destination for explorers from all over the world.
Located on the edge of the Strait of Magellan, the southernmost city in Chile, it is arguably the most visited of all seaports in Chile. The second of only two free ports in Chile, it offers everything from museums to restaurants to cruise ships and has seen a recent increase in petrochemical trade.
4. Port of Iquique
Pronounced e-key-kay, this Chilean seaport is the only other free port in the country. Located on the north coast, it is one of Chile's oldest ports, thanks to the country's victory over Peru in the 1883 Pacific War.
Although it is a smaller port compared to other ports, its economic significance has always been a long-term trading center. The city of Iquique is known for its white-sand coastline, water sports and tax-free status - attracting thousands of tourists every year.
Since 2014, Iquique International Terminal (ITI) has been planning plans to expand the port's terminal to make room for larger trade ships. The plan is to turn the small seaport into a hub, a direct bridge to Asian markets and rivaling Chile's largest port. Currently, the expansion concession is being extended until 2030. Once the project is finalized, the port of Iquique will become an influential trade hub.
5. Arica Port
The Port of Arica is also located on the country's northern coast, bordering Peru. In the south, the city of Arica meets the Atacama Desert. Arica is rich in archaeological and ancient history, while offering a beautiful and sunny landscape full of modern activities.
With ancient battlefields, dunes, national parks, colonial buildings and churches, Arica is known as Chile's largest agricultural seaport. While other ports are notorious for their seafood, Arica is known for exporting citrus fruits and locally produced olives from farms in the Azapa and Rio Lluta valleys.
