June 26, 2012

Argentinian seafood exports valued at US$423 million

According to statistics from the National Health Service and Food Quality (Senasa), Argentina's fish and shellfish exports have reached a value of US$423 million in the first five months of 2012.

These figures represent a fall of 13.7% in volume and of 9.4% in value over the same period last year, when 164,876 tonnes were sold abroad for US$466.5 million tonnes.

Between January and May 2012, Senasa certified fish exports for about 88,296 tonnes, valued at US$220.8 million and 54,109 tonnes of shellfish, worth US$202.2 million.

The major export records were those of hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 39,805 tonnes, worth US$106.1 million. These figures indicate a 9.6% decrease in volume and a 10.7% fall in value compared with the first five months of 2011 (44,009 tonnes and US$118.8 million).

In terms of volume, the squid (Illex argentinus) was in second place with 35,327 tonnes worth US$83.4 million, that is to say, there was a 2.7% increase in volume and a 20.6% growth in value compared to the same period in 2011 (34.386 tonnes and US$69.1 million).

It was followed by exports of hoki (Macruronus magellanicus), with 5,400 tonnes worth US$13 million; those of Patagonian anchovy (Engraulis anchovy) with 6,547 tonnes worth US$15.5 million; and exports of shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) with 14,236 tonnes worth US$74.9 million.

The shipments of Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica) totalled 2,650 tonnes worth US$31.1 million; those of fin rays (Potamotrygon brachyura) amounted to 2,099 tonnes worth US$5 million; those of pollock (Genypterus blacodes) totalled 1,770 tonnes for US$8, 6 million; and those of flounder (Paralichthys patagonicus) amounted to 1,092 tonnes worth US$5.4 million, among other species.

During the first five months of this year, Spain ranked first among the countries that received Argentinean fish and shellfish: this country imported a total of 30,916 tonnes worth US$106.9 million.

Brazil ranked second with 16,246 tonnes worth US$ 49.1 million. Then the US was located with 8,095 tonnes valued at US$34 million, and then Italy, with 7,318 tonnes worth US$24.6 million.