MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentine fish exports stable at 365.372 tons during first ten months of 2011

Squid dropped to third place behind hake and shrimp as main export items (Photo FIS)

Argentina exported 365.372 tons of fish and shellfish valued at 1.16 billion dollars in the first ten months of 2011, according to statistics from the National Health Service and Food Quality, Senasa. Hake, shrimp and squid were the three main items in that order.

These figures represent a rise of just 2% in volume terms and 15.5% in value compared to those recorded in the same period last year, with 358.109 tons exported with revenue of 1.004 billion dollars.

Between January and October, Senasa certified fish exports for 245.391 tons valued at 595.2 million dollars and 119.981 tons of seafood valued at 565 million dollars.

The largest export records were those of hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 108.529 tons and 300.4 million dollars. This represents a drop of 13% in volume and a rise of 7.6% in value over the first 10 months of 2010 (124.613 tons and 279.1 million dollars).

In terms of volume, the second place was occupied by the shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), with 64.155 tons and 385.4 million dollars, up 23.6% in volume and 8.7% in value compared to the same period in 2010 (51.895 tons and 354.3 million dollars).

Squid (Illex argentinus) figures with 48.688 tons and 105 million dollars; hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) with 20.807 tons and 48.6 million dollars; and exports of Patagonian anchovy (Engraulis anchovy), 10.639 tons and 20.8 million dollars.

The shipments of Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica) totalled 5.460 tons and 63.4 million dollars; fin rays (Potamotrygon brachyura) 5.360 tons and 11.7 million dollars; shipments of pollock (Genypterus blacodes) 4.626 tons and 19.2 million dollars and flounder (Paralichthys patagonicus), 2.054 tons worth 10.5 million dollars.

Spain remained the main destination of Argentine seafood, acquiring 79.253 tons worth 342.8 million dollars between January and October 2010. Brazil follows with 43.176 tons and 128.4 million dollars; Italy with 23.056 tons valued at 101.5 million dollars and the US with 14.594 tons worth 70.2 million dollars. (FIS/MP).-