Chile: Potato Exports Up 47% in Volume Through August, Seed Potatoes Lead Shipments
Chile shipped 2 million kilograms of potatoes and potato products abroad in the first eight months of 2026. Seed potatoes made up almost half of the volume, while imports stayed about 37 times larger by value.
Chile exported more potatoes in the first eight months of 2026. From January to August, exports reached 2 million kilograms. That is 47% more than in the same period of 2025. The export value rose 19% to 3 million US dollars FOB. The figures come from the September potato bulletin of the agricultural policy office ODEPA, published on 14 September.
Seed and snacks drive exports
Seed potatoes were the largest export group by volume. They made up 46% of the exported volume and 36% of the value. Prepared potato products, mainly snacks, made up 55% of the value but only 22% of the volume. Fresh potatoes for consumption made up 22% of the volume and 7% of the value.
The main buyers were neighbouring countries. Uruguay took 47% of the exports, Brazil 25%, Argentina 9% and Guatemala 8%, according to the office.
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Imports remain much larger
Chile is still a large net importer of potato products. From January to August, imports reached 110 million US dollars CIF. This is 9% less than a year earlier. The import volume fell 4.7% to 81 million kilograms. Frozen prepared potatoes made up 83% of the import value. By value, imports were about 37 times larger than exports, by our calculation.
Consumer prices rise
The bulletin also shows higher prices for shoppers in the Santiago region in August. At open-air markets, potatoes cost 935 pesos per kilogram. This is 69% more than in August 2025. In supermarkets, the price was 1,669 pesos per kilogram, up 50% from a year earlier.
The potato area for the 2025/2026 season is estimated at 38,553 hectares, 2% less than the season before. La Araucanía has 27% of the area and Los Lagos 20%.
Why it matters
Chilean exports are still small, but they are growing. Seed potato exports to Uruguay and Brazil show that Chilean seed has a place in the region.
At home, the market is tight. Consumer prices are much higher than last year, and the planted area is slightly smaller. Seed growers may find export demand a useful addition to the local market.
Photo: Tubers of an Andean potato variety (not Chile) (illustrative). Ordercrazy / Wikimedia Commons, CC0
