U.S. Food Export to Chile

Chihade International supplies American food products to importers and foodservice distributors in Chile, shipped from our SQF-certified facility in Georgia. We are looking for a distributor partner in Chile.

Why Chile

Chile has the cleanest tariff position of any market we serve. The U.S.–Chile Free Trade Agreement has been in force since 2004 and is fully phased out — U.S. products face zero tariffs across the board.

U.S. agricultural exports were $946 million in 2025, of which consumer-oriented product was $599 million, or 63%. Retail food sales run to $29.76 billion, with supermarkets alone at $15.93 billion — 53.5% of grocery retail. The top four chains hold roughly 53% of the market, the most consolidated retail in the region, which means fewer but larger conversations.

What We Do From the U.S.

We are a U.S. exporter. We do not operate warehouses or distribution in Chile — that is what our distributor partners do. Our job is everything on the American side of the shipment:

• Sourcing from more than 300 U.S. manufacturers, to your specification
• Consolidating mixed loads into full containers, so you are not forced into single-supplier minimums
• Dry, chilled and frozen storage in our 64,000 sq. ft. SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia
• Spanish-language labelling, stickering and ink-jet date coding applied before goods leave the U.S.
• Export documentation — USDA and health certificates, halal certification where required, certificates of origin
• Ocean and air freight on contracted U.S. lanes, with expedited air for urgent replenishment

Import Requirements We Prepare For

Clearance runs in two steps. SAG (Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero) inspects first for sanitary and phytosanitary compliance. The Ministry of Health, through its regional SEREMI office, then issues the use-and-disposal authorisation — and no food leaves the port without it. Worth correcting a common misconception: ACHIPIA is a coordinating and advisory body, not a border-clearance authority.

Labelling is in Spanish, and stickers are permitted. The major compliance item is Chile’s black octagonal “ALTO EN” stop-sign seals, triggered at 400mg sodium, 10g sugars, 4g saturated fat or 275 kcal per 100g for solids, and 100mg, 5g, 3g or 70 kcal per 100ml for liquids. Products carrying seals cannot be advertised to under-14s and cannot use cartoons, characters or toys on pack — which affects artwork as much as compliance.

There is no blanket food registration, but products containing animal ingredients need a SAG process-monograph registration. A local agent or importer is required to clear customs, and a registered customs agent is mandatory above $3,000.

San Antonio is the largest container port, with Valparaíso second; Santiago handles air freight.

What We Look For in a Distributor Partner

We are deliberately selective, because these relationships tend to last decades rather than seasons. We are typically looking for:

• An established importer of record, with the licences and clearance experience the market requires
• Real coverage of at least one channel — modern retail, wholesale, foodservice distribution, or franchise supply
• Temperature-controlled storage and distribution appropriate to the categories you want to carry
• A sales team that can place and support a new brand rather than simply warehousing it
• An interest in a long-term programme, including exclusive lines where it makes sense for both sides

If that is a reasonable description of your business, we would like to talk.

See all markets we serve →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have a warehouse or office in Chile?

No. Chihade International is a U.S. exporter based in Lawrenceville, Georgia, and we ship from there. We do not hold stock inside Chile. Local importing, clearance, storage and distribution are handled by our distributor partners — which is precisely the role we are looking to fill.

Do we have to order a full container of a single product?

No. Consolidation is one of the main reasons distributors work with us. We combine products from multiple U.S. manufacturers into one container, so you can carry a broad range without committing to full-truckload minimums from each supplier.

Can we get exclusive rights to a brand in our market?

In many cases, yes. Chihade International is the exclusive distributor of Country Sun, our own brand of American cheeses, mayonnaise, frying oils, cheese sauce and breakfast meats. Where it makes commercial sense on both sides, we grant exclusive Country Sun distribution rights by territory — a line your competitors cannot stock. See the range at countrysunfoods.com.

Are U.S. products really duty free in Chile?

Yes. The U.S.–Chile FTA has been in force since 2004 and the phase-out is complete, so U.S. products face zero tariffs across the board. It is the most straightforward tariff position of any market on our list.

What do the black octagon labels mean for our packaging?

If a product exceeds Chile’s thresholds it must carry “ALTO EN” seals, and that has knock-on effects: sealed products cannot be advertised to under-14s and cannot use cartoons, characters or toys on pack. It is worth reviewing artwork early rather than at the printing stage. We apply compliant labelling in Georgia.

Does ACHIPIA clear our shipment?

No — that is a common misunderstanding. ACHIPIA is a coordinating and advisory body. SAG inspects, and the Ministry of Health’s regional SEREMI office issues the authorisation that actually releases the goods from port.

How We Work With Partners in Chile

Whichever channel you operate in, the U.S. side of the shipment is the same: sourcing, consolidation, preparation and documentation from our SQF-certified facility in Lawrenceville, Georgia.

• Franchise export — supplying U.S. franchise brands at their locations in Chile.
• Distributor partnerships — for importers and foodservice distributors carrying American lines.
• Retail and supermarket consolidation — an American grocery range without single-supplier minimums.
• Export warehousing and 3PL — dry, chilled and frozen under one roof in Georgia.
• All export services — the full picture of what we handle before a container sails.
• Beef and protein export — U.S. beef, poultry and seafood, including halal programmes, with plant eligibility confirmed for each market.

Useful reading: Multi-language labelling for exported U.S. food  ·  Container consolidation for food importers  ·  How to become a distributor partner  · How franchise export works ·  all export guides

Become Our Distributor Partner in Chile

Tell us about your market coverage and the products you are looking for, and we will be in touch about a distribution program.