Argentina exported 149,143 tonnes of fish and shellfish worth US$361.5 million in the five first months of 2010, an on-year fall of 13.3% in terms of volume and 8.4% in value, according to the National Food Safety and Quality Service (SENASA).

 

Between January and May, SENASA certified 114,498 tonnes of fish exports, valued at US$234.2 million, and 34,645 tonnes of shellfish worth US$127.3 million.

 

The highest export registries were of common hake, with 55,811 tonnes worth US$122.1 million. These figures indicate an increase of 2.7% in volume and a loss of 2.4% in value in terms of the five first months of 2009.

 

In terms of volume, squid ranked second with 20,332 tonnes worth US$31.3 million; that is, 38.2% less in volume and 13.1% lower in value than the 32,861 tonnes and US$36 million tallied through May 2009.

 

Just behind were shipments of Argentine anchoita with 11,681 tonnes worth US$21,5 million; shrimp with 10,746 tonnes worth US$72.9 million; and hoki, with 7,550 tonnes worth US$14.8 million.

 

Export shipments of scallops totalled 3,262 tonnes worth US$21.9 million; those of short-tailed river stingray, 2,971 tonnes worth US$6.2 million; golden kingclip, 2,324 tonnes worth US$9.5 million; and those of Patagonian flounder, 1,338 tonnes worth US$5.6 million, among other species.

 

Continuing the trend registered in the first four months of the year, Spain, following months of leadership in the import of fish and Argentine shellfish, was displaced by Brazil, which imported a total of 27,757 tonnes worth US$70.3 million between January and May 2010.

 

Spain held second place in terms of volume exports, with 26,626 tonnes, but was in first place as far as value, with purchases worth US$93.6 million.

 

Italy came next, with 9,556 tonnes estimated at US$32.6 million, and the US, with 5,684 tonnes worth US$18.2 million.