Peru's seafood exports generated US$320.9 million in revenue in July of this year, which represents 15.7% less than in the same month in 2012 when their value was US$380.3 million.

The Ministry of Production (Produce) reported that the exported volume decreased by 32.8% at 169,300 tonnes, compared to 251,700 tonnes shipped a year earlier. This decrease was mainly due to lower sales of frozen products, fishmeal and fish oil.

According to the latest Statistical Bulletin prepared by Produce, between January and July 2013 the exports of 680,800 million tonnes of fish products generated US$1,392.7 million while in the same period last year 1.4 million tonnes had been sold abroad for US$2,160.9 million.

In July, 110,500 tonnes of fishmeal were exported for US$181.7 million while in the same month last year 186,600 tonnes worth US$256.4 million had been sent abroad, figures that indicate losses of 40.8% and 29.2%, respectively. However, between January and July of this year, a total of 351,500 tonnes of fishmeal was exported, 63.3% more than in the same period in 2012 at 958,700 tonnes.

The main markets for Peruvian fishmeal were China, Germany, Japan and Chile, who bought around 305,000 tonnes of the total traded until July 2013.

July exports led foreign sales of fishmeal in the first seven months to US$624.9 million, an amount which represents a 47.9% less than in the same period in 2012 at US$1,199.2 million.

Denmark, Belgium, Chile, Canada and China accounted for 80% of fish oil exports registered until last July. These sales generated US$118.4 million, representing a decrease of 54.5% compared to the same period in 2012 at US$260.4 million.

In July, about 31,200 tonnes of frozen products were also exported, a volume that accounts for a decrease of 11.7% compared to 35,300 tonnes exported a year earlier.

In January-July of this year, 216,600 tonnes of frozen products were shipped abroad, which is an amount that represents a decrease of 4.8% compared to the same period in 2012 at 227,500 tonnes.