In the final stretch to 2026, it is important to reinforce the sector’s goals for the year to come. These are not much different those we have always had, and which have been the foundation of our meat production and exports from Chile to the world:
Keeping Chile free of diseases that could impact our animal production and international trade. Although producers have a great responsibility to maintain biosecurity measures on their farms to prevent the entry of certain diseases, it is well known that the highest risk of exotic disease entry comes from products that travelers may bring into the country. It is therefore critical to strengthen passenger control at border crossings and stop entry through unauthorized crossings, once and for all. Our country’s plant and animal health asset is one of the most significant competitive advantages of our food export sector.
Deepening Chile’s trade agreements and gaining access to new markets for our meat products. In 2025, our plants were given renewed authorization to export to the Philippines, a market that has been the gateway for our products into ASEAN markets. In 2026, we expect to achieve the long-awaited opening for pork and poultry exports to Vietnam, as well as make progress toward opening Indonesia and signing zoning agreements for African Swine Fever (ASF) in our main destination markets. In an increasingly competitive world and amid the resurgence of protectionist measures, we need more and better trade agreements than ever to reach new markets. With only 20 million inhabitants, Chile needs global markets for its production sectors to be competitive.
Supporting the work of the Agricultural and Livestock Service (SAG), a key player in the development of Chile’s meat sector. SAG’s efforts, both in safeguarding Chile’s animal health and in supporting food safety in production, have been critical to our growth. The tremendous dynamism of world trade, together with the opening of new markets and the need for increasingly immediate responses, make it necessary to modernize the service. Higher investment in technology, strengthening the laboratory system, and implementing modern systems that better respond to and support SAG’s officials’ work are urgent needs that cannot wait any longer.
Unblocking new investments. Over the past 15 years, the production sector could have increased its output by 70%. Still, due to constant changes in environmental regulations and, mainly, a lack of political will to advance clear land-use planning regulations, these projects have not been implemented. We hope that the implementation of the odor regulation in pig production, along with a genuine conviction in the need to resume the country’s growth, will help unblock the discussion around investment and development in Chile. This will allow us to start growing again and take advantage of our country’s potential for producing natural proteins.
We hope the new administration that will take office in March 2026 embraces these priorities and that, by working together, the public and private sectors can continue to develop a pork and poultry production and export sector, contributing to the development of rural areas in central Chile.
Let’s make 2026 a fantastic year!!!
Juan Carlos Domínguez C.
