March 2, 2012

Argentina fish exports drop in January

Argentine fish and shellfish exports in January 2012 fell 13.2% to 24,479 tonnes, with a value of US$81.4 million, according to statistics from the National Health and Agrifood Quality Service (SENASA).

These figures represent a fall of 13.2% in volume and of 5.6% in value compared with the same month last year, when 28,198 tonnes of seafood worth US$86.2 million were exported.

Last January SENASA certified fish exports for about 17,888 tonnes, valued at US$46.1 million and 6,591 tonnes of shellfish worth US$35.3 million.

The highest export records were those of hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 8,315 tonnes worth US$22.2 million. These figures represent an increase of 19.3% in volume and a rise of 25.4% in value during the first month of 2011, when 6,965 tonnes of hake were sent abroad for US$17.7 million.

It was followed by shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), with 3,252 tonnes worth US$18.4 million, that is to say, a 16.7% decrease in volume and a 23.1% fall in value compared to the same month last year, when 3,900 tonnes worth US$23.9 million were exported.

Further back were located the Patagonian anchovy (Engraulis anchoita), with 3,203 tonnes and US$7.7 million; and the shipments of squid (Illex argentinus), with 2,218 tonnes worth US$4.9 million, that is to say, 12.6% less in volume and 6.5% more in value than during the same month in 2010 (2,537 tonnes were exported for US$4.6 million).

Senasa reported that in January 2012 a total of 1,165 tonnes of croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) for US$2.2 million; 952 tonnes of hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) for US$2 million; and 775 tonnes of Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica) for US$9.3 million were sold abroad.

The sales of weakfish (Cynoscion striatus) abroad were 425 tonnes for US$893,000; those of golden kingklip (Genypterus blacodes) were 409 tonnes worth US$1.5 million; the sales of fin rays (Potamotrygon brachyura) were 307 tonnes for US$727,000; and those of Patagonian flounder (Paralichthys patagonicus) were 175 tonnes for US$989,000.

Spain remained as the main destination for Argentine seafood by purchasing approximately 4,652 tonnes worth US$16.6 million in January 2012.

Second was Brazil with 3,379 tonnes worth US$9.9 million; then was the USA with 1,514 tonnes valued at US$8 million, and further back was Italy with 1,413 tonnes worth US$5.9 million.