The Chilean dairy industry is also growing and incorporating new technology.
Chile is a major producer of hybrid corn seeds, sunflower seeds and vegetable seeds and to a lesser extent forage seeds for export. Most large multinational seed companies are present in Chile.
Major New Zealand agritech exports to Chile are rye grass seed, dairy machinery, parts for agricultural and horticultural machinery, clover seed and machinery for soil preparation or cultivation.
Getting your product into market
The business environment is very sophisticated and competitive. Relationship building should be central to any entry strategy.
Key points to note include:
- Chile is an extremely price sensitive market
- importers are normally also distributors and usually demand exclusivity.
Regulations
Tariffs on the majority of New Zealand imports have been eliminated. Remaining tariffs will be removed by 2017.
Phytosanitary import permits are required for most plant material including nursery stock, seed for sowing, consumption and processing, growing media and packing material.
All pedigree livestock, birds or unregistered purebred animals imported for breeding are subject to quarantine. All other livestock and birds are subject to rigid sanitary inspection and to quarantine if necessary.
Labelling must be in Spanish. Packaged goods must be marked to show the quality, purity, ingredients or mixtures and the net weight or measure of the contents. There are also specific requirements for agricultural insecticides.
Opportunities
- There are opportunities for New Zealand agritech companies to increase their presence in Chile through promotion and marketing of their products.
- Chile is a growing and significant market for New Zealand pasture seeds and animal genetics.
- High technology products will be in greater demand to reduce costs and increase productivity on beef and dairy farms.
- There is increasing demand for training programmes for middle-tier farm workers. This is where the technology gap occurs between New Zealand and Chile. Workers generally do not have the education and training to use high-tech agritech products and techniques.
