MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina's nine month squid exports reach 91.277 tons, up 43.7% over 2012

The boost in squid exports was also accompanied by increases in hake and shrimp shipments

Argentina exported 329,751 tons of seafood in the nine months of 2013 to September, a figure which shows an increase of 14.9% compared to the same period in 2012, when 286.899 tons were shipped abroad.

According to statistics from the National Health and Food Quality Service (Senasa), in the first nine months of this year 182,201 tons of fish were exported, up 2.8% over the same period in 2012 (177,236 tons).

Including September, 147,550 tons of seafood were also exported, 34.3% more than in the same period last year, when 109,863 tons were sold overseas.

The highest export records were for squid (Illex argentinus) with 91 727 tons, 43.7% more than the 63,819 tons exported in the same period a year ago.

It was followed by hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 85,308 tons, 7.7% more than during the first nine months of last year (79,145 tons), and shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), with 48,113 tons, 21.1% more than in the nine months of 2012, (39,714 tons).

Among the resources that increased their shipments abroad are the Patagonian anchovy (Engraulis anchoita), with sales growing by 0.6%, from 5,724 tons between in Jan-September, 2012 to 5,759 tons in the same period of 2013.

More stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura) was also exported, up 2.4%, from 4,342 tons to 4,450 tons; and Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica), from 4,660 to 4,869 tons (4.4%).

The species that recorded declines when comparing the first nine months of 2013 with the same period last year were: Hoki (Macruronus magellanicus): 13.2% (from 12,941 to 11,240 tons); Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri): 3.2% (from 30,379 to 29,407 tons); Pollock (Genypterus blacodes): 9.4% (from 1,877 to 1,702 tons); Weakfish (Cynoscion striatus): 3.9% (from 13,055 to 12,553 tons). Starting this year, Senasa does not report fish exports values. (FIS)