EU-27 and Chile: basic statistical indicators and selected trade figures - Issue number 33/2011 - Products Statistics in Focus

Copper: close to a third of Chile's exports to the EU-27 – Size of Chile's fish catch similar to that of the EU-27

The Republic of Chile is one of South America's most stable and prosperous nations. Endowed with mineral wealth, it is rich in agricultural resources, forests and grazing lands and has one of the world's most productive marine ecosystems. The European Union and Chile signed an Association Agreement in 2002 which came into force in 2003 and has since made a positive contribution to trade between the two partners. The EU is Chile's second main partner for both goods imports and exports. However its trade deficit with Chile remains considerably influenced by world copper prices. Chile's total fishery catches are roughly similar to those recorded for the EU-27. Its structure is however quite different. Chile's economy displayed robustness in the face of recent adversity: the world recession, a large drop in the price of copper, as well as the second-strongest earthquake in the country's history in February 2010.