The manufacturing industry in Chile accounts for just over 18% of the GDP. Manufacturing is largely based on the refining and processing of the country’s mineral, agricultural, fishing and forestry resources. Some examples would be copper wire and piping, fertilizers (mineral resources); wine, juices, canned fruit, jams, sweets and chocolates(agricultural resources); canned fish & seafood, fish oil, fishmeal, processed salmon & trout(fishing resources); chemical wood pulp, wooden chips, timber, furniture, doors and window frames(forestry resources).
Main industries fall into the following categories: foodstuffs, beverages and tobacco; chemicals, petroleum, rubber and plastics; paper and printing; non metal mining/basic metal; metal products, machinery and equipment; timber and furniture and textiles/clothing. According to Sofofa (the organisation that represents the interests of the manufacturing industry), more than 7300 companies are active in manufacturing. The bulk of the country’s manufacturing industry is located in and around Santiago and Valparaiso. Other major industrial centres are Concepcion, Antofagasta, Iquique and Puerto Montt. The principal manufacturing exports are:
- processed salmon & trout
- wood pulp
- petrol, fuel oils and lubricants
- wine
- sawn timber
- methanol
- fishmeal
- wooden mouldings
- products of copper
- wooden boards
