MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina’s seafood exports in two months: 48.418 tons; lower prices for hake, squid and shrimp

According to Argentine stats the average ton of squid price was down 17.5%

Argentina reported exports of 48.418 tons of seafood in the first two months of the year equivalent to 140.8 million dollars, which is 8.2% less than the same period a year ago, mainly because of lower prices.

The Situation Report from the Fisheries Directory based on Indec figures shows that the three main export items prices: hake (Merluccius Hubbsi); squid (Illex argentinus) and shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri) declined by 5.1%, 17.5% and 3.8% respectively. This however contrasts with the rise in costs in the Argentine fishing industry.

In the case of hake, the average ton price in the first two months of 2013 was 2,612 US dollars. The average ton of squid was sold at 1,677 dollars (whole squid, 1,511; squid pods, 2,546; clean tubes, 6,418; and tentacles, 2,685, the official report informed). As to shrimp the average ton price was 5,402 dollars in the first two months of this year.

In the two months to 28 February, 13,147 tons of hake were exported, up 2.8% over the same period a year ago and totalling 34.3 million dollars; the volume of shrimp exported was 6,381 tons, up 12.8% and 34.4 million dollars and finally 7,536 tons of squid, up 14.3%, totalling 12.6 million dollars.

The Argentine fishing industry claims it not only faces rising domestic costs but also a poor exchange rate and the contraction of the European market, key destination of Argentinean sea produce. (FIS)