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Strategic Lens

Chile and China

First country

Second country

In 2025, Chile sold USD 40.6 billion of goods to China and bought USD 26.5 billion from it. The DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Chile China (consolidated) (2019). Both are members of APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 77 percent in 2023, and 81 percent on average over 2019 to 2023. In 2024, 13 thousand people born in China lived in Chile.

Benefits

  • BothTwo-way trade in goods grew 74 percent, from USD 38.6 billion in 2019 to USD 67.1 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in critical minerals and metals grew 94 percent, from USD 15.3 billion in 2019 to USD 29.6 billion in 2025.
  • BothTwo-way trade in machinery, vehicles and iron and steel grew 72 percent, from USD 4.03 billion in 2019 to USD 6.94 billion in 2025.

Constraints

  • BothTwo-way trade in mineral fuels and oils fell 55 percent, from USD 39.5 million in 2019 to USD 17.7 million in 2025.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Chile sold USD 29.6 billion of critical minerals and metals, against USD 2.4 million the other way.
  • BothFlows are one-sided: in 2025, Chile sold USD 4.60 billion of agricultural and food products, against USD 501 million the other way.

Sources: UN Comtrade (public preview API), annual goods trade, HS classification (retrieved 26 September 2026); DESTA: Design of Trade Agreements database, version 02_03 (retrieved 25 September 2026); Wikidata, statements on membership (property P463) (retrieved 26 September 2026); United Nations General Assembly voting data (Voeten, Strezhnev and Bailey), agreement scores (retrieved 25 September 2026); UN DESA International Migrant Stock 2024 (retrieved 25 September 2026)

Last updated on 26 September 2026

At a glance

Goods trade, both ways
USD 67.1 billion
2025, as reported by Chile
Chile to China
USD 40.6 billion
2025, as reported by Chile
China to Chile
USD 26.5 billion
2025, as reported by Chile

What connects Chile and China

Economy

Trade in goodsIn 2025, Chile sold USD 40.6 billion of goods to China and bought USD 26.5 billion from it.

Resources

EnergyIn 2025, Chile sold USD 6.6 million of mineral fuels and oils to China and bought USD 11.1 million from it.Critical mineralsIn 2025, Chile sold USD 29.6 billion of critical minerals and metals to China and bought USD 2.4 million from it.Agriculture and foodIn 2025, Chile sold USD 4.60 billion of agricultural and food products to China and bought USD 501 million from it.FertiliserIn 2025, China sold USD 247 million of fertilisers to Chile.

Industry

Supply chains and manufacturingIn 2025, Chile sold USD 8.1 million of machinery, vehicles and iron and steel to China and bought USD 6.94 billion from it.TechnologyIn 2025, Chile sold USD 7.9 million of electrical and electronic equipment to China and bought USD 6.45 billion from it.Pharma and healthIn 2025, China sold USD 84.7 million of pharmaceutical products to Chile.

Diplomacy

Agreements and treatiesThe DESTA database lists 2 trade agreements that include both countries, the most recent being Chile China (consolidated) (2019).Multilateral alignmentBoth are members of APEC. Their agreement score in UN General Assembly voting was 77 percent in 2023, and 81 percent on average over 2019 to 2023.Diaspora and mobilityIn 2024, 13 thousand people born in China lived in Chile.

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