July 31, 2007

Chile's Jan-May fish exports up 15.7 percent on-year to US$642.1 million

Chile's ocean fishing industry exports totalled US$642.1 million in the first five months of 2007, up 15.7 percent from US$554.9 million in the same period a year ago, industry association Sonapesca said Monday (July 30).

Chile exported fishmeal and fish oil amounting to 261,069 tonnes in January-May, up 0.3 percent from 260,301 tonnes in the same period a year ago. Fishmeal and fish oil exports accounted for 58.7 percent of the 444,718 tonnes the sector exported during the five-month period.

In dollar terms, the exports of fishmeal and fish oil increased 35.4 percent on the year to US$289.1 million from US$213.4 million, Sonapesca added.

International fishmeal prices jumped 39.1 percent during the period to US$1,156.00 a tonne, the industry group reported.

Sonapesca doesn't report on farmed salmon or trout exports.