With a highly developed economy that imports 90% of its food, Singapore is an attractive market for Chilean meat exports. The Meat Traders’ Association (MTA), an organization that brings together nearly 100 Singaporean meat importing, distributing, and processing companies, met remotely with ChileCarne’s representatives to explore new opportunities for collaboration.
The meeting was opened by Chile’s ambassador to Singapore, Tamara Villanueva, who praised the initiative and emphasized its importance within the framework of the Pacific Alliance-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (PASFTA).
“The meat trade partnership between Chile and Singapore represents much more than a business opportunity: it demonstrates our shared commitment to food security, quality, and sustainable development. We have everything we need to build a fruitful and lasting relationship,” the ambassador said.
Then, ChileCarne’s Business Manager, Rodrigo Castañón, outlined the strengths of the Chilean pork and poultry industry and emphasized its position as a reliable supplier in the world’s most demanding markets, thanks to its robust biosecurity, a 100% traceability model, and compliance with high health and environmental standards.
The main assets of the Chilean meat industry include:
-Biosecurity: Chile is free of diseases such as PRRS, ASF, and highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
-Food safety: rigorous residue monitoring, responsible use of antibiotics, and compliance with strict international regulations.
-Sustainability: slurry treatment technologies, emissions reduction, water reuse, and animal welfare certifications.
Kenny Toh, president of the MTA and a key player in Singapore’s meat sector, highlighted the association’s focus on enhancing food security, diversifying supply sources, advancing the digitization of the industry, and fostering responsible labor practices. These priorities show a commitment to quality, traceability, and sustainability, values that align with the principles of the Chilean pork and poultry industry and foster the consolidation of a strong and lasting trade partnership.
Pork and poultry currently account for 86% of Chilean meat production and 90% of meat exports, which are primarily destined for Asia, including South Korea, Japan, and China. Singapore, with a GDP per capita over $90,000 USD, has a growing demand for safe, high-quality food products. It is not only a significant market for imported products, but it also serves as a strategic base to distribute Chilean exports throughout Southeast Asia.
A Promising Destination for Chilean Meat
Singapore is becoming a priority destination for the Chilean food export industry, especially for pork and chicken. This small Southeast Asian country, made up of 64 islands and a surface area of just 728 square kilometers, is home to more than 6 million people and combines a high population density with a sophisticated economy based on services, technology, and advanced industries.
The primary feature that makes Singapore a key market is its structural need to import food, as more than 90% of its food consumption comes from abroad due to the limited agricultural land available. In terms of animal protein consumption, chicken is the most popular, with 38.9 kg per capita per year, followed by pork at 22 kg. To reduce reliance on fresh meat and improve food security, the government has launched campaigns like “Eat Frozen Pork” to encourage its consumption, diversify and expand its network of international suppliers.
Given its strategic location and features, Singapore has also established itself as a logistics and trade hub for Southeast Asia, enabling access to and expansion of Chilean products into other markets in the region. Additionally, its demographic diversity—nearly 40% of the population is foreign-born—and the annual arrival of over 16.5 million visitors contribute to a broad, sophisticated, and multicultural food demand.
The meeting between ChileCarne and the MTA marks an essential step toward strengthening long-term business relationships between the two countries. In a global context that demands more resilient, sustainable, and traceable food systems, this partnership presents new opportunities to consolidate Chile as a reliable and strategic supplier in Southeast Asia.
