Argentinean fisheries exported over 5 percent more volume in the first quarter of 2020, but low prices caused the country’s export value to decline.
Argentinean fisheries saw 132,150 metric tons (MT) in exports during the first quarter of the year, rising 5.3 percent when compared to the same quarter in 2020 but falling 6.4 percent to USD 423.6 million (EUR 347.5 million) due to an average 11.1 percent drop in overall prices.
According to the latest information published from the national Subsecretary of Fishing and Aquiculture, prawns represented Argentina’s highest fisheries export, reaching a volume 29,470 MT and value of USD 193 million (EUR 158 million), up 1.8 percent and 3.5 percent respectively. Those increases are thanks to a 1.7 percent boost in average prices to USD 6,554 (EUR 5,376) per MT for the country's prized Argentine red shrimp fishery.
However, that was the only high-volume product that saw a price increase during the first quarter of the year.
Shipments of Illex squid increased 12.8 percent in tonnage to 54,375 MT, but due to a 20 percent drop in the overall price to USD 2,037 (EUR 1,671) per MT, brought in 9.8 percent less in dollar terms at USD 111 million (EUR 91 million). Next in importance to Argentina’s fishing exports was Hubbsi hake, which saw a sales increase of 1.4 percent to 21,741 MT, but its value was down 5.7 percent to USD 50.4 million (EUR 41.3 million) on a 7 percent decrease in overall prices to USD 2,317 (EUR 1,901) per MT.
King crab came fourth in export volume, with 648 MT exported at a value of USD 11.2 million (EUR 9.2 million) of which was shipped, jumping a respective 37 percent and 37.8 percent. That increase in value was thanks to average prices staying basically flat at USD 17,214 (EUR 14,121) per MT.
Black hake wrapped up the top five of fishing exports, but the market saw shipments drop in volume by 30.9 percent and value by 57.2 percent to 947 MT and USD 10.3 million (EUR 8.4 million) respectively, with average prices falling by 38.1 percent to USD 10,929 (EUR 8,964) per MT.
During the first quarter of 2021, Spain was the main recipient of Argentinean exports at USD 72.2 million (EUR 59.2 million) and 15,462 MT. That was followed by South Korea at USD 45.8 million (EUR 37.5 million) and 23,193 MT; China at USD 40.3 million (EUR 33 million) and 11,398 MT; the U.S. at USD 37.1 million (EUR 30.4 million) and 7,518 MT; and Thailand at USD 34.9 million (EUR 28.6 million) and 8,899 MT.
Argentina imported a total USD 62.9 million (EUR 51.6 million) and 16,621 MT of seafood from abroad in Q1 2021. That mainly came from Ecuador, USD 25.8 million (EUR 21.2 million) and 6,426 MT; Chile with USD 19.2 million (EUR 15.7 million) and 4,105 MT; and Thailand, with USD 12.6 million (EUR 10.3 million) and 4,857 MT.
Photo courtesy of Nick Photoworld/Shutterstock
