December 27, 2010

 

Pakistani seafood exports increase by 37% 

 

 

Pakistani seafood exports have increased by 37% to PKR96.87 million (US$1.13 million) during the July-November period of the current fiscal year, according to provisional figures released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP).

 

Despite the EU ban on imports from Pakistan, the increase of PKR26.138 million (US$305,065) proved that the country could fetch good prices from new markets, a source said.

 

Last year, exporters sold PKR70.73 million (US$825,514) worth of seafood from July to November.

 

The EU de-listed all Pakistani seafood exporters in April 2007 and the ban has remained since then.

 

Sources said if the EU had permitted imports of Pakistani seafood, the amount could have exceeded the PKR300 million (US$3.5 million) mark as kidney shrimp did not fetch good prices in other markets. Out of the PKR194 million of total exports in 2005-06, the share of exports to EU was over 25% or PKR50.06 million (US$584,398).

 

Exports of seafood to the EU are used as a benchmark for other countries importing from Pakistan. "Even a country like China asks for export registration numbers for the EU market," said an official.

 

Pakistan's seafood export noted significant increases to China, UAE, Thailand, Korea, Saudi Arabia, and Indonesia.

 

An official from the Karachi Fisheries Harbour Authority (KFHA), however, said it was a misunderstanding to believe that a ban had been imposed on Pakistani seafood exports to the EU. "There is no ban, but the EU has de-listed Pakistan's processing units."

 

Out of the 28 processing units, 11 are used to export to the EU, but currently none of them are listed.

 

When an EU mission visited the harbour in 2007, they found some deficiencies both at the harbour and processing units. The EU's Directorate of Food and Veterinary submitted its 25-page findings to Pakistani authorities and expressed concern for the facilities.

 

There were two main issues: Lack of traceability and deficient cold chain. Temperature has to be kept at six degrees Celsius for fresh fish and -12 degrees Celsius for frozen fish.

 

"There was a failure of the total system," said one official, "From boat conditions to harbour and laboratory."

 

The funds needed to ensure the cleaning of the harbour on a daily basis were not available at the KFHA.

 

Despite the suspension, Pakistan's overall seafood export increased to PKR236.58 million (US$2.76 million) in 2008-09 from PKR188.32 million (US$2.2 million) in 2006-07.

 

In order to get the EU market back, the fisheries authorities have taken several measures to improve the whole system.

 

The Sindh government has started a PKR558 million (US$6.51 million) project for improvement of the conditions. About 100 boats have been modified and work is being carried out on another 100 boats. Boat modification costs from PKR200,000-PKR1,300,000 (US$2,335-US$15,176), 75% of which is paid by the government. Two auction halls have been improved. Also, Korangi Fish Harbour has also been made functional.

 

Although Pakistani seafood exports have increased, fisheries officials said the EU market remained crucial as buyers in EU offer steady and strong prices and Pakistani kidney shrimp gets the best price there.