Blockades cost Chile $10 million per day

Reports are that several demonstrations, road cuts and blockades are stopping any cargo from entering or leaving Chiloé island - home to about 20 salmon processing companies - meaning that dozens of trucks loaded with fresh produce are unable to be exported.

“We are losing close to 80 per cent of our production capacity, which is equivalent to losses of about US$ 10 million a day. The most serious and significant damage is the loss of customers confidence and prestige, in addition to breach of contract,” said the general manager of the Association of the Chilean Salmon Industry, Felipe Manterola.

He added that over 30,000 workers’ families within the salmon industry in Chiloe, in addition to suppliers, do not have access to their workplaces, food or basic goods. “Moreover, there is a widespread social chaos due to the lack of fuel,” he expressed.

“As an association, we want to express our solidarity with the small fishermens' organizations, we perfectly understand the drama they are living. We believe the government must solve this situation as soon as possible. The salmon industry is part of the same region and one month ago we faced the same problems experienced by fishermen now. What cannot happen, and what the government cannot accept is that the entire region is paralyzed,” he said.

Shipments to the US

“The local salmon producing companies are in constant contact with their US clients, trying to explain this situation, which is a single event. Unfortunately, this situation damages the image of the industry. It is a completely abnormal situation and we hope it is resolved via social dialogue,” Manterola added.

Meanwhile, the Chilean American Chamber of Commerce (Amcham) - which represents US companies in the country - expressed its concern about the consequences of this conflict.

The president of Amcham, Kathleen Barclay, warned that a halt in the constant flow of these shipments generates a “loss of confidence in these 0products” and “that the losses from these blockades are of about US$ 9 million a day”, she said.

In addition, Barclay stressed the importance of protecting Chile's image in the world. “As binational camera, it seem important for us to safeguard the perception of the country abroad,” she said.

She also stated that protect the rule of law is a decision variable for foreign investors.

Finally, Barclay emphasized that Chile needs to “strengthen its growth rates” and hopes that “this situation is solved as soon as possible”.