MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chile among the world's main mussel producers

With exports valued at 70 million US dollars a year, Chile is now the world's fourth largest producer of mussels. The country currently has 63 seed beds, 1,132 growing centres and 40 processing plants, 90 percent of which are in the south of the country.

Chile's Production Promotion Authority (CORFO) - after implementation of a five year plan entitled the Integrated Territorial Program (PTI) – expects Chile to eventually be the world's second most important mussel producer. China is by far the world's leading producer of cultured mussels, accounting for nearly 45% of the market. After China come countries like Spain, New Zealand, France and Italy, all producing similar amounts to Chile. This means Chile has a realistic chance of becoming the second most important mussel producer. CORFO Regional Director Manuel Bagnara believes that the PTI "will generate conditions for our mussel production to break into the new international markets like the United States, European countries and Asia." Chile is also the leading supplier of frozen mussels to the French, Italian and Spanish markets.