Fact Friday #8- Economy I

Where's the Money?-

Chile's economy is based on the export of minerals, mainly copper. Chile is the world's largest copper producer.

Main Imports and Exports-

Exports: Refined Copper (28%), Copper Ore (20%), Raw Copper (4.1%), Sulfate Chemical Woodpulp (3.3%), and Wine (2.4%)

Imports: Refined Petroleum (10%), Crude Petroleum (7.5%), Cars (5.0%), Delivery Trucks (3.9%), and Planes, Helicopters and/or Spacecraft (3.8%)

Trade with The States-

Chile's main exports from the USA in 2013 were: Mineral Fuel (oil) ($6.0 billion), Machinery ($2.7 billion), Vehicles ($1.5 billion), Electrical Machinery ($1.1 billion), and Aircraft ($832 million). Their main imports to the USA were: Copper ($3.5 billion), Edible Fruit and Nuts (grapes, blueberries) ($1.8 billion), Fish and Seafood (salmon fillets) ($1.3 billion), Wood ($701 million), and Rubber ($359 million).

My Region-

The region that I am going to is called Araucanía. The main city is Temuco, which is where I will be living. There is a large population of Mapuche, natives in my region. So they are known for the products, and culture of these groups. Temuco is also famous for its Chocolateria Norweisser and the chocolate they make. It is supposed to be really good.  Araucanía is also one of Chile's most prominent agricultural regions. Their main crop is wheat, but grapes, lupine, and oats are also main crops. For this reason it has developed the nickname “granary of Chile”. It also has many national parks, hot springs, and caves making tourism a big industry. Finally, they are known for their wool yarn. 

The Stats-

	Chile	USA
Per Capita Income (GNI) (2013)	$21,060	$53,750
Gross National Product (2013)	$371.1013 Billion	$16.9924 Trillion
Unemployment Rate (2013)	6%	7.4%
Retirement Age	Women: 60 years Men: 65	62