January 18, 2010

Peru looking to expand global seafood market access

As sales of Peruvian frozen shrimp to the EU decline, Peru is hopeful that its latest rounds of negotiations with the EU and South Korea will benefit the domestic seafood industry.

Export sales of Peruvian frozen shrimp to the EU was US$7.84 billion during January to November 2009, down 18% compared with the same period in 2008, according to the Lima Chamber of Commerce (CCL).

Despite the decline, the CCL said there were clear signs of recovery and interest from markets, and frozen shrimp remains as the best-selling product in the EU.

Among the products offered are frozen shrimp and shrimp tails without shells, the CCL said.

Spain is the main market for Peruvian shrimp, which is also very popular in France.

Meanwhile, a delegation of EU officials will visit Peru between January 18 and 23 to continue negotiating the bilateral free trade treaty (TLC). The meeting will discuss the state of seafood products and the benefit of restitution of taxes for exporting companies, or drawbacks.

Representatives of Peru and South Korea will also meet within the framework of Specific Round of Negotiation of the TLC between both countries. It is hoped that the meeting will make some headway on the subject of access to the Korean market where there are preoccupations of seafood and agricultural products, according to the head of the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR), Martin Perez.

Peru hopes that its seafood products like will have preferential access to the Korean market.

The next round of TLC talks between Peru and Japan will occur in late February or early March this year.