Importing frozen Chilean pelagic seafood: a buyer's guide
Chile is one of the world's leading exporters of wild pelagic seafood — jack mackerel (Trachurus murphyi), Pacific chub mackerel (Scomber japonicus), sardine (Strangomera bentincki) and anchovy (Engraulis ringens) — all caught in the South Pacific (FAO Area 87) and processed at plants like FoodCorp Chile's Coronel facility. If you are sourcing for the first time, here is what matters.
Forms importers buy
Frozen pelagic from Chile typically arrives in these formats:
- Whole round — the workhorse for reprocessing, canning and West African and Latin American food markets. Standard packing: carton 20 kg net, blast-frozen.
- Headed & gutted (H&G) — semi-processed for canneries and filleting lines.
- Fillets — IQF or block — size-graded from 200–300 g to 900 g+ for foodservice and retail.
- Block frozen — industrial format for further processing.
What to specify in your enquiry
Be precise: species (or mixed pelagic), form, size grade, packing (20 kg carton or IQF bag weight), volume (container load or trial shipment), destination port and required Incoterms (FOB Coronel, CFR or CIF). Mention any certification requirements — BRC, HACCP, health certificates — up front.
Documents to request
Before you order, ask for: a product specification sheet, packing list format, health/export certificate template, BRC or HACCP certificate, and a sample COA if available. A supplier who responds quickly with documentation is one you can build a programme with.
Ready to source? Tell us your species, form and volume and FoodCorp will reply with availability and pricing from Coronel.
Frequently asked questions
What is standard packing for frozen Chilean pelagic?
Standard export packing is carton 20 kg net for whole round and H&G product, blast-frozen through tunnel freezers. IQF fillets are packed to buyer specification.
Which species does FoodCorp export?
FoodCorp exports Chilean jack mackerel, Pacific chub mackerel, sardine, anchovy and frozen mackerel in whole round, H&G, HGT and fillet forms — all wild-caught from FAO Area 87.
Can you ship to Asia and Africa?
Yes. FoodCorp exports frozen pelagic to importers across Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas from the port of Coronel, Biobío Region.
Further reading
Source frozen Chilean pelagic
Send your species, form, volume and destination and we'll reply with a firm offer.