MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Strong recovery of Argentine fisheries exports

Argentina's fisheries exports in the first eight months of 2006 reached 477.000 tons valued in 887 million US dollars, up 43.4% over the same period a year ago according to the Consultants IES.

However encouraging, the report indicates that the volume and income must take into account other factors such as the low activity during the period analyzed because of the long labor conflict that paralyzed the high seas fleet for two months and the problems with the shrimp catch.

Nevertheless the Argentina fisheries sector is showing a "very dynamic export activity" since 64% of all catches are sent overseas.

"Prospects for the rest of the year indicate a recovery of hake catches and other species, which mean the overall catch will be experimenting an 8 to 10% growth rate, given the strong expansion of squid and shrimp".

This year's exports are forecasted to be in the range of 530.000 tons which would represent a 15% increase over 2005.