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Ovine meat production in Chile down; Punta Arenas port rates in Chilean pesos; Fisheries Minister inaugurates Seafood Expo Latin America.

Ovine meat production in Chile down

Ovine meat production in Chile declined considerably during the first quarter of 2005 compared to the same period a year ago, according to the latest statistical data. The information covers abattoirs, poultry, cattle, hogs and sheep, and shows that ovine meat production dropped 17,8% while beef production increased 10,3% totalling 56,209 tons. Broiler production increased slightly, 3,5%, reaching 124,036 tons and pork meat also expanded 3,5%, with a total of 92,756 tons. Ovine meat declined to 4,142 tons. As to sales of live cattle, hogs and sheep, during the first quarter figures indicate a 1,7% and 91,4% increase with ovine trade dropped 28,7%.

Punta Arenas port rates in Chilean pesos

Punta Arenas port authorities will be adjusting their rates but not necessarily raising them but rather changing from US dollars to Chilean pesos. The last time Empresa Portuaria Austral, EPA, adjusted its tariffs was in 2001 when the US dollar in Chile was equivalent to 634 pesos. "This means that our income in pesos has considerably declined because the US dollar has consistently lost value in Chilean pesos, and most of our costs are actually in Chilean pesos, manpower, water, energy", said EPA manager Eduardo Manzanares. "Who could imagine that the US dollar would be costing 580 Chilean pesos four years later? And with most projections showing the US dollar will continue to decline in the future". Therefore Mr. Manzanares anticipated that Punta Arenas port rates will in the future be established in Chilean pesos, given the US dollar downward volatility and the fact "that 85% of our income proceeds from companies working in Chile which operate with Chilean pesos". "Our only objective is recovering the income value we had in 2001 by adjusting rates to 2001 real levels". Mr. Manzanares pointed out that in the last four years the US dollar value had dropped 10% in Chile and the consumer prices index has risen 9%. "This has had a direct impact on our costs because annually by law we must adjust salaries, plus the fact that other cost components have also increased as shown by the consumer index", highlighted Mr. Manzanares. However he pointed out that the adjustment strategy won't be an across the board increase, "because operation costs have also diminished with an increase in productivity, but we must also remember EPA belongs to all Chileans and we must make it a sound company".

Fisheries Minister inaugurates Seafood Expo Latin America

The head of the Special Secretariat of Aquaculture and Fisheries (SEAP), José Fritsch, will inaugurate the second Seafood Expo Latin América, the International Show of Fish, Seafood and Technology for the Aquaculture and Fisheries Industry today. Taking place from 10 to 12 May in Sao Paulo, over 80 exhibitors will be present at this international event and, according to its organisers, more than 8,000 visitors are expected to attend the show. The show offers an excellent opportunity to establish commercial ties with skilled professionals within the fisheries sector and with stakeholders from the United States, Europe, and Asia. During the three-day event, the SEAP and the Exports Promotion Agency (APEX) will promote a series of business conferences, in which importers from foreign countries will take part through the Buyer Project, an agreement between both Brazilian institutions. In order to promote exports and encourage fish consumption, in 2003 the SEAP began fostering trips by Brazilian stakeholders to foreign countries and visits by foreign experts to Brazil. Moreover, SEAP is actively working to improve the sector's infrastructure, so that it will be up to par to supply the domestic market, and is to promote and market fisheries products through campaigns. According to the SEAP, there is an eight kilograms per capita national consumption, a number somewhat lower than the 12 kilograms per capita recommended by the World Health Organisation (WHO). During the expo Seafood Export Latin America, Fritsch will meet with the Spanish Minister of Fisheries, Elena Espinosa, a delegation of Galician representatives, and delegates from the Latin American and the Caribbean fisheries sectors. (FIS)