July 21, 2010

 

Chilean salmon exports decline in Jan-Apr

Chile exported 129,436 tonnes of salmon in the first four months of this year, 36.6% less than in the same period of 2009, while sales generated US$709.6 million in revenue, an amount that represents an on-year decrease of 21.3%.

 

Industry sources attribute this decrease to a decline in production due to the emergence of the infectious salmon anaemia (ISA) virus in several farms since 2007.

 

However, the decline in the value of exports was partly offset by an improvement of 24.2% of the average price per kilogramme of salmon from US$4.40 to US$5.50.

 

Salmones Pacific Star was positioned as the leading exporter in this period, with 16,255 tonnes shipped between January and April 2010.

 

The second place was the main sector firm, AquaChile, with 15,325.7 tonnes. AquaChile brings together the companies Salmones de Chiloé, Salmones Maullín and Aguas Claras.

 

Mainstream ranked third, with 11,481 tonnes of salmon, followed by Multiexport, with 7,402 tonnes.

 

While in fifth place was Pesquera Itata, with exports of 6,476 tonnes of salmon.

 

The subsidiary of the giant Norwegian Marine Harvest was relegated to 17th place, with only 1,757 tonnes exported.

 

With respect to the value of exports, AquaChile continued to lead the ranking, accumulating in the first quarter of 2010 returns of US$85.2 million.

 

Mainstream followed, with US$60.6 million; Salmon Itata with US$50 million and Multiexport with US$49.5 million.

 

Further behind was Salmones Pacific Star, with US$38.3 million; Salmones Antártica, with US$42 million, Marine Harvest, with US$16 million and Friosur, with US$14 million.

 

The lower production in Chile was reflected in the US market, which in the first quarter of this year purchased 34,639 tonnes less of Chilean salmon. This gap could not be filled by producers from Canada, Norway and the UK, which together exported 17,677 tonnes to Chile.