Chapter 34 · Chemicals

Soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, mode…

Soap, organic surface-active agents; washing, lubricating, polishing or scouring preparations; artificial or prepared waxes, candles and similar articles, modelling pastes, dental waxes and dental preparations with a basis of plaster

In January–July 2026, Chile exported US$ 11.5 million of the goods in this chapter, less than 0.1% of everything it exported and 22% more than in the same months of 2025. The main destination was Argentina (44%), and the main region of origin, Metropolitana (88%). It imported US$ 325 million, 5.3% more than in the same months of 2025, mostly from China (30%).

Servicio Nacional de Aduanas · How it is measured

US$ 11.5 M
exported, January–July 2026 · +22% vs January–July 2025
US$ 325 M
imported, January–July 2026 · +5.3% vs January–July 2025
<0.1%
of everything Chile exported · 0.6% of imports

Month by month

January 2025–August 2026
0204060US$ MJan2025FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovs/dDecJan2026FebMarAprMayJunJuls/dAug
0204060US$ MJ2025FMAMJJASON·DJ2026FMAMJJ·A
ExportsImportsshaded: the months the figures above are read over

«s/d» is a month the Aduanas database does not carry, not a month without trade.

What is inside

January–July 2026

What is exported, by heading

Chemicals 100%Organic surface-active agents (not soap); surface-active, washing (in…73%Soap; organic surface-activepreparations used as soap, skinwashing,…16%Polishes, creams,scouring pastes,powders and similar;…6.9%Lubricatingpreparationsand those…3.2%Waxes;…Modell…pastes…
Chemicals 100%Organic surface-activeagents (not soap);surface-active, washing…73%Soap;organicsurface-ac…16%Polishes,creams,scouring…6.9%Lubricat…preparat…and thos…

What is imported, by heading

Chemicals 100%Organic surface-active agents (not soap); surface-active,washing (in…51%Lubricating preparationsand those used in oil orgrease treatment of…21%Soap; organic surface-activepreparations used as soap, skinwashing,…18%Polishes,creams,scouring…3.6%Waxes;artificial,prepared3.0%Candles,tapers andthe likeModelling…
Chemicals 100%Organicsurface-activeagents (not soap)…51%Lubricatingpreparations andthose used in oil o…21%Soap; organicsurface-activepreparations used a…18%Polish…creams,scouri…3.6%Waxes;artif…prepa…3.0%Candles,tapers…Modellin…

With which countries

January–July 2026

Each line joins the start and a country this was sold to; it is a relationship, not a route. The other countries, pooled, and the codes that are not a country (free zones, ship stores) add up to US$ 144 thousand and have no line.

Each line arrives from the country where the goods were made; it is a relationship, not a route. The other countries, pooled, and the codes that are not a country (free zones, ship stores) add up to US$ 26.2 million and have no line.

Where exports go

  1. ArgentinaUS$ 5.0 million44%
  2. PeruUS$ 3.5 million30%
  3. UruguayUS$ 577 thousand5.0%
  4. BoliviaUS$ 492 thousand4.3%
  5. ParaguayUS$ 366 thousand3.2%
  6. Costa RicaUS$ 362 thousand3.1%
  7. ColombiaUS$ 321 thousand2.8%
  8. EcuadorUS$ 253 thousand2.2%
  9. BrazilUS$ 222 thousand1.9%
  10. MexicoUS$ 131 thousand1.1%
  11. United StatesUS$ 118 thousand1.0%
  12. Dominican RepublicUS$ 48 thousand0.4%
  13. OthersUS$ 144 thousand1.2%

Where imports come from

  1. ChinaUS$ 98.1 million30%
  2. United StatesUS$ 70.8 million22%
  3. ArgentinaUS$ 31.1 million9.6%
  4. BrazilUS$ 18.5 million5.7%
  5. ColombiaUS$ 16.8 million5.2%
  6. MexicoUS$ 15.4 million4.7%
  7. SpainUS$ 14.0 million4.3%
  8. GermanyUS$ 11.4 million3.5%
  9. FranceUS$ 8.5 million2.6%
  10. EcuadorUS$ 7.9 million2.4%
  11. South KoreaUS$ 3.5 million1.1%
  12. United KingdomUS$ 2.9 million0.9%
  13. OthersUS$ 26.2 million8.1%

From which region

exports · January–July 2026
  1. MetropolitanaUS$ 10.1 million88%
  2. Nationalised foreign goodsUS$ 902 thousand7.8%
  3. ValparaísoUS$ 414 thousand3.6%
  4. AraucaníaUS$ 43 thousand0.4%
  5. No region declaredUS$ 36 thousand0.3%
  6. AntofagastaUS$ 31 thousand0.3%
  7. MauleUS$ 1 thousand<0.1%
  8. CoquimboUS$ 1 thousand<0.1%
  9. O'HigginsUS$ 1 thousand<0.1%
  10. MagallanesUS$ 200<0.1%

The region the declaration names as the origin of the exports. An import declares no region.

Where it leaves and lands

January–July 2026
Port or crossingComunaLoaded (exports)%Unloaded (imports)%
San AntonioSan AntonioUS$ 2.6 million23%US$ 201 million62%
Los LibertadoresLos AndesUS$ 6.3 million55%US$ 46.4 million14%
ValparaísoValparaíso——US$ 50.2 million15%
Aeropuerto A.M. BenitezPudahuelUS$ 1.4 million12%US$ 9.4 million2.9%
Puerto AngamosMejillones——US$ 7.5 million2.3%
AntofagastaAntofagastaUS$ 66 thousand0.6%US$ 5.3 million1.6%
San VicenteTalcahuano——US$ 2.2 million0.7%
LirquénPenco——US$ 1.1 million0.3%
ChacallutaAricaUS$ 850 thousand7.4%——
ChungaráPutreUS$ 206 thousand1.8%——
OllagueOllagüeUS$ 61 thousand0.5%——
Pino Hachado (Liucura)LonquimayUS$ 33 thousand0.3%——
Other portsUS$ 9 thousand0.1%US$ 2.3 million0.7%

The Chilean port where the exports were loaded and the imports unloaded: where the cargo passes, which is not always the office that processes it. The eight largest are named; the rest are in «other ports». Every port →

Exports, by transport

  1. RoadUS$ 7.5 million65%
  2. Sea, river and lakeUS$ 2.6 million23%
  3. AirUS$ 1.4 million12%
  4. Courier (air)US$ 33 thousand0.3%
  5. OtherUS$ 7<0.1%

Imports, by transport

  1. Sea, river and lakeUS$ 268 million82%
  2. RoadUS$ 47.6 million15%
  3. AirUS$ 8.3 million2.6%
  4. Courier (air)US$ 1.1 million0.4%

Who processes it

January–July 2026
Customs officeRegion of its seatExports%Imports%
San AntonioValparaísoUS$ 2.6 million23%US$ 201 million62%
Los AndesValparaísoUS$ 6.3 million55%US$ 46.7 million14%
ValparaísoValparaísoUS$ 8 thousand0.1%US$ 50.2 million15%
AntofagastaAntofagastaUS$ 494 thousand4.3%US$ 12.9 million4.0%
MetropolitanaMetropolitanaUS$ 1.5 million13%US$ 9.4 million2.9%
TalcahuanoBiobío——US$ 4.2 million1.3%
AricaArica y ParinacotaUS$ 592 thousand5.1%US$ 364 thousand0.1%
AraucaníaAraucaníaUS$ 33 thousand0.3%US$ 316 thousand0.1%
IquiqueTarapacá——US$ 160 thousand<0.1%
Punta ArenasMagallanesUS$ 1 thousand<0.1%US$ 68 thousand<0.1%
OsornoLos Lagos——US$ 638<0.1%

The office is the branch of the Service that processed the declaration. An import is counted at the office that clears it.

From where to where

January–July 2026

What leaves: region of origin, customs office, destination

Region of originCustoms officeDestinationMetropolitanaUS$ 10.1 million · 88%Nationalised foreign goodsUS$ 902 thousand · 7.8%ValparaísoUS$ 414 thousand · 3.6%AraucaníaUS$ 43 thousand · 0.4%No region declaredUS$ 36 thousand · 0.3%AntofagastaUS$ 31 thousand · 0.3%Other regionsUS$ 4 thousand · 0.0%AntofagastaUS$ 494 thousand · 4.3%Los AndesUS$ 6.3 million · 55%MetropolitanaUS$ 1.5 million · 13%San AntonioUS$ 2.6 million · 23%AricaUS$ 592 thousand · 5.1%Other officesUS$ 42 thousand · 0.4%ParaguayUS$ 366 thousand · 3.2%UruguayUS$ 577 thousand · 5.0%ArgentinaUS$ 5.0 million · 44%BoliviaUS$ 492 thousand · 4.3%PeruUS$ 3.5 million · 30%ColombiaUS$ 321 thousand · 2.8%Costa RicaUS$ 362 thousand · 3.1%OthersUS$ 917 thousand · 7.9%
Region of originCustoms officeDestinationMetropolit…88%Nationalis…7.8%Valparaíso3.6%Araucanía0.4%No region …0.3%Antofagasta0.3%Other regi…0.0%Antof…4.3%Los A…55%Metro…13%San A…23%Arica5.1%Other…0.4%Paraguay3.2%Uruguay5.0%Argentina44%Bolivia4.3%Peru30%Colombia2.8%Costa Rica3.1%Others7.9%

What comes in: origin, transport, customs office

OriginTransportCustoms officeChinaUS$ 98.1 million · 30%United StatesUS$ 70.8 million · 22%ArgentinaUS$ 31.1 million · 9.6%BrazilUS$ 18.5 million · 5.7%ColombiaUS$ 16.8 million · 5.2%MexicoUS$ 15.4 million · 4.7%SpainUS$ 14.0 million · 4.3%OthersUS$ 60.4 million · 19%RoadUS$ 47.6 million · 15%Sea, river and lakeUS$ 268 million · 82%Courier (air)US$ 1.1 million · 0.4%AirUS$ 8.3 million · 2.6%Los AndesUS$ 46.7 million · 14%San AntonioUS$ 201 million · 62%ValparaísoUS$ 50.2 million · 15%AntofagastaUS$ 12.9 million · 4.0%MetropolitanaUS$ 9.4 million · 2.9%Other officesUS$ 5.1 million · 1.6%
OriginTransportCustoms officeChina30%United Sta…22%Argentina9.6%Brazil5.7%Colombia5.2%Mexico4.7%Spain4.3%Others19%Road15%Sea, …82%Couri…0.4%Air2.6%Los Andes14%San Antonio62%Valparaíso15%Antofagasta4.0%Metropolit…2.9%Other offi…1.6%

Every column adds up to the same total; the largest are named and the rest pooled into «others». Hover a ribbon to see how much it carries.

Its 7 headings

change against January–July 2025
CodeDescriptionExportschangeImportschange
34.02Organic surface-active agents (not soap); surface-active, washing (including auxiliary washing) and cleaning preparations, containing soap or not, excluding those of heading no. 3401US$ 8.4 million+33%US$ 165 million+0.5%
34.03Lubricating preparations and those used in oil or grease treatment of textile and similar materials; excluding preparations containing 70% or more (by weight) of petroleum or bituminous mineral oilsUS$ 369 thousandUS$ 67.5 million+36%
34.01Soap; organic surface-active preparations used as soap, skin washing, in bars, cakes, moulded pieces, shapes, liquid or cream, containing soap or not; for retail, paper, wadding, felt and nonwovens, impregnated, coated or covered with soap or detergentUS$ 1.8 million−0.1%US$ 59.3 million−5.6%
34.05Polishes, creams, scouring pastes, powders and similar; in any form, (including articles impregnated, coated or covered with such), for furniture, footwear, floors, coachwork, glass or metalUS$ 799 thousandUS$ 11.8 million+20%
34.04Waxes; artificial, preparedUS$ 61 thousandUS$ 9.7 million+25%
34.06Candles, tapers and the likeUS$ 12 thousandUS$ 7.4 million−13%
34.07Modelling pastes, including those for children; dental wax, impression compounds, in sets or packings for retail sale or in plates and similar forms; dentistry preparations with plaster baseUS$ 53 thousandUS$ 4.1 million−30%

A change is shown only where the same months of the year before added up to at least US$ 1.0 million.

How it is measured

Where the figures come from
Every export and import declaration the Servicio Nacional de Aduanas processed since January 2025, added up as Aduanas publishes them in its open databases. Nothing is estimated. They are amounts of trade, not PuroChile indicators, and they are never divided by census figures.
FOB and CIF
Exports are valued FOB («free on board»): what the goods are worth loaded on the ship, plane or truck that takes them out of Chile. Imports are valued CIF («cost, insurance and freight»): what they are worth on arrival in Chile, with insurance and freight paid. That is how Aduanas publishes them. So «exports less imports» is not the Central Bank's trade balance, which values imports without insurance or freight.
Which months
The figures at the top add up January–July 2026: the months of this year both databases already carry, against the same months of 2025. Aduanas replaces the running year's database every month, so this year's months can still be corrected. «s/d» on a chart is a month the database does not carry — not a month without trade.
Changes
A change is shown only where the same months of the year before added up to at least US$ 1.0 million.
The codes
Aduanas classifies every good with a code of the Arancel Aduanero, which is the international Harmonized System with two Chilean digits added: 2 digits are the chapter (74, copper), 4 the heading (74.03, refined copper), 6 the subheading (7403.11, cathodes) and 8 Chile's own tariff line. Names are the Arancel's; in English, the Harmonized System 2022's. Chile's Section 0 and its 8-digit lines have no English text and are shown in Spanish.
Port and customs office
The port is where the cargo physically passes: loaded for an export, unloaded for an import. The customs office is the branch of the Service that processes the declaration. They are not always the same place: the Aduana de Antofagasta processes what is loaded at Mejillones.
What is not here
Customs agents: every declaration names the agent who filed it, but Aduanas's open databases leave that field out, and PuroChile does not estimate it.
A month at zero
A month with no bar is one in which nothing was declared under this code; «s/d» is one the database does not carry.

Source: Servicio Nacional de Aduanas · How each figure is checked →