MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine fisheries exports contract 5,8%

Argentine fisheries exports during the first nine months of this year dropped 5,8% compared to the same period in 2003, mainly because of a significant contraction in shellfish and mollusc sales.

The official release from the Argentine Fisheries Department and the Food Health and Quality Office shows that exports of shellfish and molluscs decreased 31,9% in volume and 23,4% in value between January/September 2004.

However an improved performance in overseas sales of frozen and canned fish helped to counterbalance the loss which so far has dropped 5,8% in value and 2,8% in volume.

Nevertheless during the first nine months of 2004, fisheries exports were higher than the traditional beef and other meats overseas sales.

Fisheries exports totalled 691 million US dollars and beef and other animal meats, 580 million US dollars.

Argentine animal origin exports in 2003 reached 3,361 billion US dollars.