October 17, 2007

Chile's Jan-Aug fish exports up 6.5 percent on-year to US$1.11 billion

Chile's ocean fishing industry exports totalled a rounded US$1.11 billion in the eight-month period between January and August 2007, up 6.5 percent from a rounded US$1.04 million in the same period a year ago, industry association Sonapesca said Tuesday (October 16).

In terms of volume, fishing industry exports totalled 738,013 tonnes in the eight-month period, down 3.4 percent from 763,611 tonnes in the same period a year ago.

Fishmeal and fish oil exports accounted for 55.3 percent of the sector's exports, or 408,412 tonnes. This was a 10.1 percent decrease from the 454,339 tonnes exported during the first eight months of last year.

In terms of value, fishmeal and fish oil exports increased 6.8 percent on the year to US$452.9 million from US$424.0 million, Sonapesca added.

International fishmeal prices jumped 22.0 percent during the period to US$1,160.00 a tonne, from US$951 in the same period in 2006, the industry group reported.

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