Chapter 90 · Precision instruments

Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, medical or surgical instruments and apparatus; parts and accessories

In January–July 2026, Chile exported US$ 58.3 million of the goods in this chapter, 0.1% of everything it exported and 9.3% more than in the same months of 2025. The main destination was the United States (28%), and the main region of origin, Metropolitana (24%). It imported US$ 1,154 million, 6.8% more than in the same months of 2025, mostly from United States (25%).

Servicio Nacional de Aduanas · How it is measured

US$ 58.3 M
exported, January–July 2026 · +9.3% vs January–July 2025
US$ 1,154 M
imported, January–July 2026 · +6.8% vs January–July 2025
0.1%
of everything Chile exported · 2.2% of imports

Month by month

January 2025–August 2026
050100150200US$ MJan2025FebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovs/dDecJan2026FebMarAprMayJunJuls/dAug
050100150200US$ 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

Precision instruments 100%Instruments andappliances used inmedical, surgical,…21%Surveying (includingphotogrammetricalsurveying), hydrographic,…12%Instruments and apparatus;for physical or chemicalanalysis (e.g. po…10.0%Lasers, other thanlaser diodes; otheroptical appliances…9.0%Binoculars,monoculars, otheroptical telescopes,…9.0%Apparatus basedon the use ofx-rays or of…6.9%Orthopaedicappliances;including…6.5%Measuring or checkinginstruments,appliances and…5.7%Regulatingorcontrollin…2.7%Instrume…apparatusfor…2.5%Instrume…apparatusfor…2.2%Navigati…instrume…and…1.8%Instrum…apparat…and…1.7%Hydrom…andsimila…1.5%Gas,liquid orelectric…Spectacl…gogglesand the…Breathingappliances…Optic…fibresand…Mechan…massag…Machin…and…Lense…prism…Dra…mar…Revo…Mach…
Precision instruments 100%Instruments andappliances usedin medical,…21%Surveying(includingphotogrammetrical…12%Instruments andapparatus; forphysical or…Lasers,other thanlaser…9.0%Binoculars,monoculars,other…9.0%Apparatusbased on theuse of…Orthopaedicappliances;including…6.5%Measuri…orcheckin…5.7%Regulat…or…Instr…appar…for…Instr…appar…for…2.2%Navi…inst…and…Instr…appar…and…Hydro…andsimil…Gas,liquid…Spect…goggl…Bre…app…Opti…Mec…

What is imported, by heading

Precision instruments 100%Instruments and appliances used inmedical, surgical, dental or veter…35%Orthopaedic appliances;including crutches, surgicalbelts and trusse…15%Instruments and apparatus; forphysical or chemical analysis(e.g. po…9.0%Instruments,apparatus formeasuring or…4.8%Apparatus basedon the use ofx-rays or of…4.8%Measuring orcheckinginstruments,…4.2%Regulating orcontrollinginstruments…3.6%Surveying(includingphotogramm…2.8%Mechano-th…massageappliances…2.8%Spectacle…gogglesand the…2.7%Instrumen…apparatusfor…2.6%Opticalfibres andoptical…1.9%Gas,liquid orelectric…1.8%Breath…applia…and ga…1.3%Hydrom…andsimila…1.2%Instru…appara…and…Lense…prism…mirro…0.9%Framesandmount…0.8%Revo…coun…prod…Micr…comp…opti…Bino…mono…othe…Drawi…marki…mathe…Camer…photo…Mach…and…Navi…inst…Machi…Laser…
Precision instruments 100%Instruments andappliances used inmedical, surgical…35%Orthopaedicappliances; includingcrutches, surgical…15%Instrumentsand apparatus;for physical…9.0%Instru…appara…for…4.8%Apparatusbased on theuse of x-ray…Measuringor checkinginstrument…Regulati…orcontroll…Surve…(incl…photo…Mecha…massa…appli…Spect…goggl…and…Instr…appar…for…Opticalfibresand…Gas,liquidor…Bre…app…and…Hyd…andsim…Ins…app…

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$ 10.0 million 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$ 320 million and have no line.

Where exports go

  1. United StatesUS$ 16.6 million28%
  2. PeruUS$ 5.6 million9.6%
  3. FranceUS$ 5.2 million9.0%
  4. GermanyUS$ 4.9 million8.4%
  5. MexicoUS$ 4.7 million8.0%
  6. ArgentinaUS$ 3.8 million6.5%
  7. BrazilUS$ 2.5 million4.2%
  8. ColombiaUS$ 1.7 million2.8%
  9. AustraliaUS$ 1.0 million1.8%
  10. PanamaUS$ 840 thousand1.4%
  11. ChinaUS$ 826 thousand1.4%
  12. PolandUS$ 822 thousand1.4%
  13. OthersUS$ 10.0 million17%

Where imports come from

  1. United StatesUS$ 286 million25%
  2. ChinaUS$ 225 million20%
  3. GermanyUS$ 112 million9.7%
  4. Origins or destinations withheld for commercial or military reasonsUS$ 68.6 million5.9%
  5. JapanUS$ 39.0 million3.4%
  6. FranceUS$ 29.9 million2.6%
  7. ItalyUS$ 28.9 million2.5%
  8. MexicoUS$ 27.1 million2.3%
  9. BrazilUS$ 23.5 million2.0%
  10. SwitzerlandUS$ 22.9 million2.0%
  11. United KingdomUS$ 19.9 million1.7%
  12. SingaporeUS$ 19.3 million1.7%
  13. OthersUS$ 251 million22%

From which region

exports · January–July 2026
  1. Nationalised foreign goodsUS$ 27.8 million48%
  2. No region declaredUS$ 14.8 million25%
  3. MetropolitanaUS$ 14.3 million24%
  4. AntofagastaUS$ 380 thousand0.7%
  5. O'HigginsUS$ 257 thousand0.4%
  6. ValparaísoUS$ 239 thousand0.4%
  7. CoquimboUS$ 196 thousand0.3%
  8. MagallanesUS$ 136 thousand0.2%
  9. BiobíoUS$ 103 thousand0.2%
  10. MauleUS$ 95 thousand0.2%
  11. Los LagosUS$ 29 thousand<0.1%
  12. TarapacáUS$ 17 thousand<0.1%
  13. Los RíosUS$ 10 thousand<0.1%
  14. AysénUS$ 1 thousand<0.1%
  15. Arica y ParinacotaUS$ 294<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)%
Aeropuerto A.M. BenitezPudahuelUS$ 37.0 million63%US$ 829 million72%
San AntonioSan AntonioUS$ 9.5 million16%US$ 226 million20%
ValparaísoValparaísoUS$ 521 thousand0.9%US$ 73.9 million6.4%
Los LibertadoresLos AndesUS$ 5.0 million8.5%US$ 5.6 million0.5%
Puerto AngamosMejillones——US$ 7.2 million0.6%
San VicenteTalcahuanoUS$ 4.8 million8.2%——
Aeropuerto Cerro MorenoAntofagasta——US$ 3.6 million0.3%
LirquénPenco——US$ 3.4 million0.3%
IquiqueIquique——US$ 1.5 million0.1%
AntofagastaAntofagastaUS$ 620 thousand1.1%——
ChacallutaAricaUS$ 616 thousand1.1%——
ChungaráPutreUS$ 90 thousand0.2%——
Other portsUS$ 173 thousand0.3%US$ 4.4 million0.4%

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. AirUS$ 25.1 million43%
  2. Sea, river and lakeUS$ 15.5 million27%
  3. Courier (air)US$ 11.9 million20%
  4. RoadUS$ 5.8 million10%
  5. OtherUS$ 13 thousand<0.1%

Imports, by transport

  1. AirUS$ 602 million52%
  2. Sea, river and lakeUS$ 314 million27%
  3. Courier (air)US$ 231 million20%
  4. RoadUS$ 7.8 million0.7%
  5. OtherUS$ 48 thousand<0.1%

Who processes it

January–July 2026
Customs officeRegion of its seatExports%Imports%
MetropolitanaMetropolitanaUS$ 36.9 million63%US$ 829 million72%
San AntonioValparaísoUS$ 6.5 million11%US$ 226 million20%
ValparaísoValparaísoUS$ 520 thousand0.9%US$ 73.9 million6.4%
AntofagastaAntofagastaUS$ 676 thousand1.2%US$ 11.6 million1.0%
TalcahuanoBiobíoUS$ 4.8 million8.2%US$ 6.2 million0.5%
Los AndesValparaísoUS$ 5.0 million8.6%US$ 5.7 million0.5%
Punta ArenasMagallanesUS$ 3.2 million5.5%US$ 107 thousand<0.1%
IquiqueTarapacáUS$ 83 thousand0.1%US$ 1.5 million0.1%
AricaArica y ParinacotaUS$ 666 thousand1.1%US$ 156 thousand<0.1%
CoquimboCoquimbo——US$ 114 thousand<0.1%
Puerto MonttLos Lagos——US$ 69 thousand<0.1%
OsornoLos LagosUS$ 564<0.1%US$ 23 thousand<0.1%
AraucaníaAraucaníaUS$ 5 thousand<0.1%US$ 4 thousand<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 officeDestinationNationalised foreign goodsUS$ 27.8 million · 48%No region declaredUS$ 14.8 million · 25%MetropolitanaUS$ 14.3 million · 24%AntofagastaUS$ 380 thousand · 0.7%O'HigginsUS$ 257 thousand · 0.4%ValparaísoUS$ 239 thousand · 0.4%Other regionsUS$ 588 thousand · 1.0%Punta ArenasUS$ 3.2 million · 5.5%MetropolitanaUS$ 36.9 million · 63%TalcahuanoUS$ 4.8 million · 8.2%San AntonioUS$ 6.5 million · 11%Los AndesUS$ 5.0 million · 8.6%Other officesUS$ 2.0 million · 3.3%MexicoUS$ 4.7 million · 8.0%GermanyUS$ 4.9 million · 8.4%United StatesUS$ 16.6 million · 28%PeruUS$ 5.6 million · 9.6%FranceUS$ 5.2 million · 9.0%ArgentinaUS$ 3.8 million · 6.5%BrazilUS$ 2.5 million · 4.2%OthersUS$ 15.1 million · 26%
Region of originCustoms officeDestinationNationalis…48%No region …25%Metropolit…24%Antofagasta0.7%O'Higgins0.4%Valparaíso0.4%Other regi…1.0%Punta…5.5%Metro…63%Talca…8.2%San A…11%Los A…8.6%Other…3.3%Mexico8.0%Germany8.4%United Sta…28%Peru9.6%France9.0%Argentina6.5%Brazil4.2%Others26%

What comes in: origin, transport, customs office

OriginTransportCustoms officeUnited StatesUS$ 286 million · 25%ChinaUS$ 225 million · 20%GermanyUS$ 112 million · 9.7%Origins or destinations w…US$ 68.6 million · 5.9%JapanUS$ 39.0 million · 3.4%FranceUS$ 29.9 million · 2.6%ItalyUS$ 28.9 million · 2.5%OthersUS$ 364 million · 32%Sea, river and lakeUS$ 314 million · 27%AirUS$ 602 million · 52%Courier (air)US$ 231 million · 20%RoadUS$ 7.8 million · 0.7%OtherUS$ 48 thousand · 0.0%San AntonioUS$ 226 million · 20%ValparaísoUS$ 73.9 million · 6.4%TalcahuanoUS$ 6.2 million · 0.5%AntofagastaUS$ 11.6 million · 1.0%MetropolitanaUS$ 829 million · 72%Other officesUS$ 7.7 million · 0.7%
OriginTransportCustoms officeUnited Sta…25%China20%Germany9.7%Origins or…5.9%Japan3.4%France2.6%Italy2.5%Others32%Sea, …27%Air52%Couri…20%Road0.7%Other0.0%San Antonio20%Valparaíso6.4%Talcahuano0.5%Antofagasta1.0%Metropolit…72%Other offi…0.7%

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 32 headings

change against January–July 2025
CodeDescriptionExportschangeImportschange
90.18Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences, including scintigraphic apparatus, other electro-medical apparatus and sight testing instrumentsUS$ 12.2 million−38%US$ 400 million+6.3%
90.21Orthopaedic appliances; including crutches, surgical belts and trusses; splints and other fracture appliances; artificial parts of the body; hearing aids and other which are worn, carried or implanted in the body to compensate for a defect or disabilityUS$ 3.8 million+28%US$ 168 million+13%
90.27Instruments and apparatus; for physical or chemical analysis (e.g. polarimeters, spectrometers), for measuring or checking viscosity, porosity, etc, for measuring quantities of heat, sound or lightUS$ 5.8 million+111%US$ 104 million+5.8%
90.22Apparatus based on the use of x-rays or of alpha, beta, gamma or other ionising radiations, whether or not for medical, surgical, dental or veterinary uses, including radiography or radiotherapy apparatus, x-ray tubes and other x-ray generators, high tensUS$ 4.0 million−7.2%US$ 55.4 million+5.3%
90.26Instruments, apparatus for measuring or checking the flow, level, pressure of liquids, gases (e.g. flow meters, heat meters etc), not instruments and apparatus of heading no. 9014, 9015, 9028 or 9032US$ 1.5 million−47%US$ 55.4 million−0.7%
90.31Measuring or checking instruments, appliances and machines, n.e.c. or included in this chapter; profile projectorsUS$ 3.3 million−44%US$ 48.5 million+2.2%
90.32Regulating or controlling instruments and apparatus; automatic typeUS$ 1.6 million−20%US$ 41.7 million−5.3%
90.15Surveying (including photogrammetrical surveying), hydrographic, oceanographic, hydrological, meteorological or geophysical instruments and appliances, excluding compasses, rangefindersUS$ 7.1 million+133%US$ 32.7 million+13%
90.19Mechano-therapy, massage appliances; psychological aptitude testing apparatus; ozone, oxygen, aerosol therapy, artificial respiration or other therapeutic respiration apparatusUS$ 325 thousandUS$ 32.5 million+17%
90.04Spectacles, goggles and the like; corrective, protective or otherUS$ 732 thousandUS$ 31.2 million−4.9%
90.30Instruments, apparatus for measuring, checking electrical quantities not meters of heading no. 9028; instruments, apparatus for measuring or detecting alpha, beta, gamma, x-ray, cosmic and other radiationsUS$ 1.3 million−17%US$ 29.8 million+10%
90.01Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles; optical fibre cables not of heading no. 8544; sheets, plates of polarising material; lenses, prisms, mirrors, of any material; unmounted; not non optical glassUS$ 363 thousandUS$ 21.6 million+22%
90.28Gas, liquid or electricity supply or production meters, including calibrating meters thereforUS$ 799 thousandUS$ 20.5 million−8.7%
90.20Breathing appliances and gas masks; excluding protective masks having neither mechanical parts nor replaceable filters and excluding apparatus of item no. 9019.20US$ 694 thousand−35%US$ 15.0 million+5.9%
90.25Hydrometers and similar floating instruments, thermometers, pyrometers, barometers, hygrometers and psychrometers, recording or notUS$ 903 thousandUS$ 14.4 million−1.4%
90.23Instruments, apparatus and models, designed for demonstrational purposes (in education or exhibitions), unsuitable for other usesUS$ 1.0 millionUS$ 11.1 million+3.7%
90.05Binoculars, monoculars, other optical telescopes, mountings therefore; other astronomical instruments, mountings therefore, but not including instruments for radio-astronomyUS$ 5.2 millionUS$ 6.6 million+121%
90.02Lenses, prisms, mirrors and other optical elements, of any material, mounted, being parts or fittings for instruments or apparatus, other than such elements of glass not optically workedUS$ 286 thousandUS$ 10.3 million+111%
90.03Frames and mountings; for spectacles, goggles or the like, and partsUS$ 13 thousandUS$ 9.8 million+9.3%
90.13Lasers, other than laser diodes; other optical appliances and instruments n.e.c. in this chapterUS$ 5.3 million+253%US$ 3.0 million−12%
90.29Revolution counter, production counters, taximeters, mileometers, pedometers and the like, speed indicators and tachometers, other than those of heading no. 9015, stroboscopesUS$ 135 thousandUS$ 7.1 million+3.9%
90.11Microscopes, compound optical; including those for photomicrography, cinephotomicrography or microprojectionUS$ 75 thousandUS$ 7.0 million−16%
90.17Drawing, marking-out, mathematical calculating instruments (drafting machines, protractors, drawing sets etc); instruments for measuring length (e.g. measuring rods, tapes, micrometers, callipers) n.e.c.US$ 212 thousandUS$ 6.1 million−9.5%
90.14Navigational instruments and appliances; direction finding compassesUS$ 1.1 millionUS$ 4.5 million+4.0%
90.06Cameras, photographic (excluding cinematographic); photographic flashlight apparatus and flashbulbs other than discharge lamps of heading no. 8539US$ 166 thousandUS$ 5.0 million+58%
90.24Machines and appliances for testing the hardness, strength, compressibility, elasticity of other mechanical properties of materials (e.g. metals, wood, textiles, paper, plastics)US$ 304 thousandUS$ 4.7 million+13%
90.33Machines and appliances, instruments or apparatus of chapter 90; parts and accessories n.e.c. in chapter 90US$ 115 thousandUS$ 3.0 million+2.1%
90.07Cinematographic cameras and projectors, whether or not incorporating sound recording or reproducing apparatusUS$ 6 thousandUS$ 1.8 million+14%
90.12Microscopes (excluding optical microscopes); diffraction apparatus—US$ 1.7 million+22%
90.16Balances; of a sensitivity of 5cg or better, with or without weightsUS$ 27 thousandUS$ 831 thousand
90.10Photographic (including cinematographic) laboratory apparatus and equipment, n.e.c. in chapter 90; negatoscopes; projection screensUS$ 12 thousandUS$ 479 thousand
90.08Image projectors, other than cinematographic; photographic (other than cinematographic) enlargers and reducersUS$ 650US$ 240 thousand

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 →