Chile's trade increasingly a matter of good taste (2)

Linetzky pointed out that the FTA has stimulated the exports of non-copper goods.

"We have witnessed more and more exports of non-copper goods, and the trend will continue. They are becoming an increasingly important export category," he said.

Although China is the largest destination for Chilean exports of copper and copper-related goods, the South American nation's other exports, such as fruit, wine and fish meal, have experienced rapid growth recently.

China is the major destination for Chilean fish meal (often used as fertilizer) the sixth-largest for wine and the ninth-largest for fruit.

Apples and fish, in particular, seemed to have whetted the trade appetite.

In 2004, about 34 percent of Chinese apple imports came from Chile, but the figure rose to 54 percent in 2011. In 2004, 28 percent of Chilean exports of trout went to China, and this figure jumped to 82 percent in 2011.

Chilean exports of fresh fruit in 2011 were 33 times that of 2004, and about 60 percent of grape exports went to China in 2011 from negligible beginnings.

"We believe non-copper goods will make up for an increasing proportion of future exports," said Linetzky.

Chile is the world's largest copper producer and is responsible for about one third of global output. In 2011, Chile's economy grew by 6 percent.