BUENOS AIRES: Argentina exported 152,673 tonnes of seafood from January to May 2015, only 0.3 per cent more than in the same period in 2014, when 152,080 tonnes had been sent abroad.
According to statistics from the National Health and Food Quality Service (SENASA), in the first five months of this year 76,760 tonnes of fish were exported, that is, 11.1 per cent less than in the same period of 2014 (86,259 tonnes).
In addition, 75,913 tonnes of shellfish were sold abroad, 15.3 per cent more than in the same period last year, when 65,821 tonnes had been exported.
The highest export records were those of the common hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 34,063 tonnes, representing 19.8 per cent less compared to the 42,456 tonnes that had been exported between January and May 2014.
They were followed by exports of squid (Illex argentinus), with 43,473 tonnes, 11.7 per cent more than during the first five months of last year (38,909 tonnes), and those of shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), with 28,806 tonnes, 29.9 per cent more than during the same period last year (22,164 tonnes).
Among the resources that increased their shipments abroad were golden kingklip (Genypterus blacodes), whose sales grew by 19.8 per cent, changing from 801 tonnes between January and May 2014 to 960 tonnes in the same period of 2015.
More freshwater stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura) were also exported, growing from 2,502 tonnes to 5,439 tonnes (117.3 per cent); and weakfish (Cynoscion striatus), which changed from 3,640 to 4,094 tonnes (12.4 per cent).
Meanwhile hoki (Macruronus magellanicus) raised from 4,472 to 6,480 tonnes, that is to say 44.9 per cent more than in the period between January and May 2014.
