Reference News Network August 29 report. According to the Chilean "Third Edition Times" website on August 25, in recent years, the urban commercial landscape in the eastern areas of Santiago, Chile has undergone significant changes. More and more Chinese commercial centers and restaurants have been integrated into the local commercial network. This phenomenon is not limited to the capital city. A recent study by Chilean market research company XBrein shows that such commercial projects are developing rapidly throughout Chile.

The data is clear: compared to February 2024, the number of Chinese shopping centers in Chile has increased by more than 59%; compared to 2022, the cumulative growth has exceeded 210%. Daniel Encina, founder of XBrein, said that this rapid growth reflects a trend, which is no longer a commercial experiment but a mature strategy.

According to the report, this development wave is not only focused on shopping centers. The number of Chinese restaurants has also grown remarkably. From 2022 to 2025, the number of Chinese restaurants across Chile has increased by more than 58%. Regional distribution data shows that these merchants are clearly concentrated in the core areas of large cities. Currently, nearly two-thirds of Chinese restaurants are located in the capital region.

The report states that the dominance of shopping centers has recently changed. In 2024, Alistore, with more than 20 stores, dominated the market and became the largest chain brand of Chinese shopping centers in Chile. However, its market position began to decline afterward. From March to July 2025, the number of stores of this brand was reduced to 9. At the same time, the new tree company chain brand seized the market gap, with 10 stores distributed throughout Chile, becoming the new leader in this field.

The geographical distribution of these shopping centers also shows a clear trend of concentration, further confirming that Chinese shopping centers have found broad development space in areas with higher population density and stronger urbanization in Chile.

Encina said that the strong growth of Chinese shopping centers stems from factors at the demand level. They offer goods at significantly lower prices, making them affordable for different socioeconomic groups.

Encina pointed out that the expansion of Chinese restaurants is more related to natural market dynamics. The category of Chinese restaurants often merges with the fast food model, successfully achieving cross-group penetration, meeting both consumer trends and the demand for "convenient and economical dining options."

According to the report, when asked whether the expansion of Chinese shopping centers poses a threat to traditional retail, Professor Claudio Pizarro from the University of Chile stated that in the long term, it is not, because the key to competition lies in value, a point that is also evident in other categories such as mobile phones and cars.

Cristian Cox, Executive Director of Chilean company Tres Unidas, which specializes in real estate consulting and management, pointed out that according to the company's situation, its shopping centers have Chinese tenants. In his view, the presence of these Chinese tenants is not a threat but a supplement to the market supply. Chinese tenants focus on providing low-cost goods, which allows them to reach customers with limited budgets. From this perspective, they enrich the market supply and broaden consumer choices. (Translated by Zhang Weiyu)

Chinese merchants display goods at a Chinese shopping mall in the capital city of Santiago, Chile. (Xinhua News Agency photo)

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7543831928231838250/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author. Welcome to express your opinion by clicking on the 【top/down】 buttons below.