May 25, 2009
Pakistan seafood exports likely to surpass US$220 million
Pakistan is likely to surpass the last fiscal year's seafood export mark of US$212 million with bright prospects to achieve over US$220 million export target by the end of this fiscal year.
The country has succeeded to fetch US$196.108 million with an average monthly export of US$9.6 million during the last 10 months.
The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) said on Thursday that Pakistan has exported seafood of US$196.108 million during the last 10 months with an increase of 17.26 percent or US$28.869 million as compared to US$167.239 million during the same period of the last fiscal year 2007-08.
On a monthly basis, seafood export went a little up with 2.6 percent or US$0.624 million in April 2009 to US$24.628 million as against the export of US$24.004 million in March 2009.
On annual basis, however, export of the edible marine animals has declined by 4.21 percent or US$1.082 million during April 2009 to US$24.628 million as compared to the export of US$25.710 million during April 2008.
The country could export US$188.320 million in fiscal year 2006-07 and US$212.252 million in 2007-08 of seafood.
Pakistan Fisheries Exporters Association (PAKFEA) chairman M. Faisal Iftikhar expressed concerns over Rs15 million (US$186,636) of illegal trade of fish per day to Iran that has badly reduced the official export of the commodity.
Iftikhar said there could be a greater export this fiscal year, if the raw material could be made available in huge volume, as about 90 percent of the export quality seafood catch has reduced presently due to the use of illegal nets by fishermen.
He also said that despite value rise of mackerel fish per kilogramme from 80-cents to between US$1.5 and US$2, export of overall seafood is difficult to show impressive growth this year.
He pointed out that sardine fish has great appeal in the Egypt market amid diminishing marine resources which has given a sigh of relief to exporters.
He also appealed to the government to ensure ban on fishing from June 15 to August 15 in the Arabian Sea so that shrimp and fish could grow in a greater volume.
