Chile

Menswear continues to exhibited a notable slowdown in both value and retail volume growth in 2023 compared to 2022. This is in contrast to womenswear, which is demonstrating more robust expansion. Nevertheless, certain product categories such as…

Sportswear is the standout performer in Chilean apparel and footwear in terms of current value growth in 2023. While inflationary pressures have subdued demand for many apparel categories in general, sportswear’s growth remains positive due to the…

While in 2023, current value and retail volume growth of womenswear has not reached the impressive double-digit figures recorded in 2021 (resulting in a full recovery to pre-pandemic sales levels, following a notable drop in 2020 as a result of…

2022 was an extremely challenging year for cooking ingredients and meals in Chile, and the economic effects experienced in the country during that period are still relevant in 2023. Despite consumers' anticipation of an improved economic landscape…

The production of olive oil in 2023 has been slowing in 2023 due to two crucial factors: adverse weather conditions and the increasing cost of fertilisers. Weather conditions have a significant impact on olive tree cultivation and subsequently on…

Inflation has presented numerous challenges for innovation in several categories, and soup is no exception. When inflation becomes an issue, the overall cost of production increases, which can have a significant impact on the performance of the…

As Chilean consumers experience a paradigm shift in dining habits and continue to embrace home cooking, they appreciate various condiments that help elevate dishes. As inflation impacts the purchasing power of Chileans and dining out in foodservice…

Northern Chile is not known for being an apicultural region due to its desert-like climatic conditions. However, a beekeeper from Pampa del Tamarugal has managed to produce honey; María Eliana Jofré hails from the town of La Huayca in the Tarapacá…

The ongoing war in Ukraine continues to impact bread production in Chile, as part of challenges felt on a wider scale. As Russia is one of the world's largest wheat exporters, disruptions to its wheat production and supply chain resulting from the…

Inflation and reduced at-home consumption occasions are influencing retail volume sales of breakfast cereals in Chile, shaping the category’s dynamics in profound ways. Inflation is severely impacting the production costs of breakfast cereals.…

The per capita consumption of frozen processed vegetables in Chile differs significantly from that of other countries in the region, primarily due to health-related factors. In the 1980s, Chile experienced a severe cholera outbreak, impacting the…

High inflation continues to impact the performance of processed meat and seafood in Chile, exerting substantial influence on both consumer behaviour and industry dynamics. The rise in inflation directly affects the purchasing power of Chilean…

Retail volume sales of rice continue to be impacted by the enduring ramifications of inflation in Chile. As a staple food for a substantial portion of the world's population, rice holds a critical position in diets and culinary traditions. However,…

In line with the waning impact of the pandemic in Chile as the country eased its restrictions, consumers were optimistic that the economic situation would improve significantly. However, this was quickly followed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,…

Historically, when a consumer applied for a bank loan, the commitment was typically honoured until the debt was fully repaid because the process of making a change was costly and time-consuming. In 2020, Chile introduced the Financial Portability Law…

Chile's economy faces challenges as bank credit declined in 2022, the most negative annual variation in 30 years. The economic slowdown stems from a gradual adjustment to previous macroeconomic imbalances, with range projections of -0.5%-0.25% in…

Credit cards in Chile are undergoing a fascinating transformation, driven by the increasing digitalisation of consumer finance. A surge in digital transactions, including via credit and debit card operations, has led to a significant shift towards…

The latest “National Survey on Cash Usage and Preferences” from Chile’s Central Bank reveals intriguing shifts in payment preferences post-pandemic. In 2022, despite another decline in value, the number of personal cash transactions rebounded to…

2023 has witnessed another marginal rebound in personal cash usage in Chile, despite a further decline in the overall value of this payment type. Cash usage tends to be higher among individuals over 60 years of age, those from lower socio-economic…

The Payment Means Law in Chile has been a driving force behind the remarkable growth of pre-paid card transactions in the country. These financial cards have gained significant traction towards the end of the review period, with both banks and…

An intriguing metamorphosis is underway in the realm of store cards across Chile. Witnessing a downward trajectory, this transformation is driven by two pivotal factors, revolutionising the market and empowering consumers. First, the consumer…

While not as demanded as tea, but constantly growing, coffee in Chile has developed from an instant drink to warm up and wake up, to an enjoyable hot beverage, with local consumers increasingly able to distinguish quality, and thus, become more…

While retail demand for hot drinks was starting to fall in line with a challenging scenario in late 2022, mainly driven by inflation and a worsening economic context, 2023 has been experiencing a deeper decline for most hot drinks in Chile. Tea is a…

2022 in Chile was a year characterised by a 30-year high inflation rate. At first glance, the effects of inflationary pressures should have had more of an impact on demand for various non-essential goods, including other hot drinks, but the lingering…

Chile is by far the leading market in Latin America in terms of per capita consumption of tea. Demand for this hot drink recorded impressive growth in the early 2010s. Furthermore, it is usually an essential item in every Chilean household. However,…

Bottled water has emerged as one of the top-performing categories in 2023. Even in the face of challenging conditions in 2022, it demonstrated impressive resilience. In 2023, bottled water continues its upward trajectory by capitalising on…

Off-trade demand for carbonates in Chile is improving in 2023. Following an abnormal year in 2021 and a more normalised performance in 2022, the category is experiencing a rise in volumes in 2023. Like most categories in 2022 and 2023, carbonates has…

As Chilean families see an increase in their incomes and new products emerge in competing categories, concentrates, often regarded as a budget-friendly option, are generally losing popularity. Powder concentrates, the primary format in the category,…

Energy drinks has emerged as one of the most dynamic categories in Chilean soft drinks in recent years. With astounding growth over the review period, the category has gained a strong following, not only in the off-trade channel but also via…

In 2022, price increases posed significant challenges for juice producers. The surge in inflation rates, reaching a 30-year high in Chile, impacted various categories, including juice. Within the category, supply chain disruptions and the…

OKF Cappuccino is the leading brand of RTD coffee in Chile, and while traditionally it was available in various mainstream retailers and pharmacies, this scenario has changed significantly in 2023. OKF Cappuccino, along with some minor brands, is no…

RTD tea in Chile does not necessarily follow its hot drinks counterpart. In contrast to the sluggish growth of regular tea in 2023, RTD tea continues to record substantial volume growth. While RTD tea has faced inflationary pressures like its hot…

Demand for soft drinks is growing despite the challenges faced in 2022 and in the first half of 2023, characterised by high inflation and weakened demand. Major categories such as carbonates and bottled water have demonstrated resilience, while…

Sports drinks has witnessed an impressive performance over much of the review period, with off-trade volume sales recording double-digit growth in 2021 and 2022. While volume sales in 2023 have marginally declined, overall demand remains…

Following a strong uptake for air treatment products during the first two years of the pandemic as Chileans spent considerable time at home, retail volume sales started to marginally fall in 2022, with even stronger declines in 2023. This performance…

Consumer appliances in Chile is witnessing a normalisation of demand in 2023 following several years of fluctuating growth rates. The first two years of the pandemic resulted in a surge in sales for many categories due to prolonged home seclusion.…

After achieving dynamic volume growth in 2021, driven by greater access to financial liquidity for local consumers, demand for dishwashers notably declined in 2022. Struggling to maintain their international supply chains due to higher container…

Despite a marginal drop in sales in 2022, food preparation appliances in Chile remains a highly popular category with local consumers and has returned to growth in 2023. Still spending considerable time at home due to hybrid/remote working measures,…

After record growth in 2021, driven by greater financial liquidity available to Chileans through various government initiatives to support the local economy, demand for home laundry appliances notably declined in 2022. Since many Chileans had already…

After experiencing a strong decrease in 2022 due to the ending of the government’s pandemic-related financial support that drove up sales the previous year and greater mobility outside of the home as restrictions eased, meaning less time spent…

Demand for microwaves was already declining in Chile prior to the pandemic, with this major appliance already present in over half of local households. Historically, there has also been a lack of important innovation to attract consumers. Access to…

Due to the lower price points of personal care appliances and the fact that the purchasing process tends to be much quicker than it is for more expensive consumer appliances, category sales have rebounded from the previous year’s decline.

After registering two consecutive years of double-digit volume growth during the pandemic, retail volume and value sales of refrigeration appliances in Chile notably declined in 2022, as local consumers changed their purchasing habits. Without access…

After experiencing a strong decline in 2022, as a result of the waning impact of government subsidies to support the local economy during the pandemic, which helped drive up sales of small cooking appliances the previous year, category demand in…

Over half of consumers in Chile recycle items and reduce food waste while being wary of their impact on the planet; shaping sustainable shopping decisions. Established recycling habits have led to over a third of consumers being Zero Wasters, with…

Overall demand for vacuum cleaners is rising in 2023 following the previous year’s substantial declines. Heightened hygiene routines and the hub as a home mean that Chileans continue to pay greater attention to the cleanliness of their homes, and are…

The cannabis culture in Chile is at an intermediate stage of development compared to other countries in Latin America. Since decriminalisation of cannabis for medicinal use in 2016, Chile has witnessed an explosion in “grow shops” and home growing to…

Chile enjoys economic freedom and relatively low corruption, which has helped its private sector to develop, although political instability remains. The economy is slowing down markedly, as copper production is impeded, and unemployment is relatively…

In Chile, the historical hindrances of higher prices, limited accessibility, and inadequate information have impeded the widespread embrace of specialist coffee shops. Despite recent shifts, where specialist coffee shops and roasteries have gained…

In Chile and across Latin America, the security concern has taken centre stage, impacting many businesses nationwide, especially within consumer foodservice. A notable challenge that key players in this industry face is closely tied to the dynamics…