In this information service about chia trade, we publish information about the international trade in chia seeds and its sustainability. The information is from our own sources and from others.
Chia seeds are a highly nutritious food that was first cultivated by the Aztecs in Mexico in pre-Colombian times. The seeds have a high content of unsaturated fatty acids, including ALA, which are considered very healthy. In addition the seeds contain high levels of protein and fibre, but little carbs. They are considered a superfood.
The chia plant (Salvia hispanica L.) is native to Southern Mexico and Guatemala. The commercial re-introduction took place in Argentina in the 1990s. Bolivia, Paraguay and Argentina are now the major producers, but France and Australia are also starting production.
Since the introduction of the crop to Europe in 2009, the market has grown at double-digit speed. The import volume was about 20000 tons in 2016. The EU novel food law has slowed down market development, but the import procedure will become easier as of 1 January 2018.
At the end of 2015 we look back on a turbulent year in the chia market: in view of abundant stock in origin prices continued to fall; the harvests were much smaller throughout Latin-America; but the market continues to grow, as we will show below. In the year ending October 2015, chia exports to the … Read more
Chia exports to the European Union increased 161% in June 2014 to May 2015 compared to a year before. This tremendous increase is even higher than the growth of 130% in the calendar year 2014 compared to a year earlier. In January 2013 the European Union approved an extension of the use of chia under … Read more
In the past year (2014/2015) the chia market has cooled down substantially, as a result of a record production in 2014. In Bolivia, for example, the area sown in 2014 increased to 80000 hectares, from 50000 hectares in 2013 (CBI 2014)*. Prices to farmers have become very low, with conventional chia of unspecified quality changing … Read more
This year, the Biofach took place in Nuremberg from 11–14 February. Over 44,000 trade visitors from 136 countries visited this exhibition, which is the World’s leading Trade Fair for Organic Food. A total of 2,146 exhibitors presented products and services at the Biofach. Five companies that participate in the CBI Export Coaching Programme Natural Ingredients … Read more
In my role of coach of SMEs from Bolivia and Pakistan, Mercadero will be present at SIAL 2014, the leading European trade fair for food products. Check out the companies exhibiting with us at http://naturalingredientsupplier.com/. This year no less than 25 supported companies present a variety of products, including the superfoods chia and quinoa, natural … Read more
This year the 25th edition of BioFach took place in Nuremberg from 12–15 February. BioFach is the world’s leading Trade Fair for Organic Food. Three companies that participate in the CBI Export Coaching Programme Natural Ingredients Bolivia exhibited at BioFach 2014. Representatives of the companies Sindan Organic SRL, Agronat SA and Sumar presented their products. … Read more
Two Bolivian companies participating in the CBI Export Coaching Programme Natural Ingredients will be exhibiting their products at the Food Ingredients Europe (FIE) 2013 trade fair. These companies are ready to bring their ranges of natural ingredients to the European marketplace. Semexa SRL offers chia seed, dried beans and soy products (TSP) and Ishima SRL sells … Read more
From 3 to 6 October Mercadero organised a business tour for Bolivian chia exporting companies. The exporters met several chia importers and chia trading companies. They also learnt more about the novel food notification procedure for chia at the Novel Foods department of CBG-MEB. The first days of the chia business tour took place in … Read more