The gross output of Malta’s aquaculture industry, which mainly comprises tuna farming and closed cycle species, amounted to EUR 131.6 million (USD 141.1 million) last year, an increase of 30.1 percent or EUR 30.4 million (USD 32.6 million) compared with 2014.
According to new figures issued by the country’s National Statistics Office (NSO), the gross value added of the aquaculture industry in 2015 amounted to EUR 20.5 million (USD 22 million), up by 16.4 percent compared to the preceding year. Taking fixed capital consumption and exchange rate differences into consideration, the factor income amounted to EUR 18.7 million (USD 20 million).
The volume of fresh fish sold last year amounted to 10,800 metric tons (MT), an increase of 25.5 percent, thanks mainly due to a 47.7 percent increase in sales of tuna, while its seabass and seabream volumes decreased by 85.7 and 13.5 percent, respectively.
When compared to 2014, intermediate consumption – which takes into account the costs incurred in the production of tuna farming and closed cycle species – increased by 33 percent. This resulted from increases in purchases of live tuna and other fish, variable production costs and overheads by 49.8, 21.7 and 18.8 percent, respectively.
Malta’s tuna sales amounted to 8,051 MT with a value in excess of EUR 111 million (USD 119.1 million), while its purchases totaled 4,887 MT valued at EUR 57.6 million (USD 61.8 million).
