Argentina exported 186,653 tonnes of fish and shellfish between January and June 2013, a figure that shows a rise of 2 per cent compared to the same period in 2012, when 182,881 tonnes were shipped abroad.
According to statistics from the National Health and Food Quality Service (Senasa), in the first six months of this year 111,857 tonnes of fish were exported, that is to say, 6.5 per cent more than in the same period in 2012 (104,958 tonnes).
In the first six months of 2013 a total of 74,796 tonnes of shellfish was also exported, 23.4 per cent more than in the same time last year, when 60,572 tonnes were sold overseas.
The highest export records were those of squid (Illex argentinus), with 54,530 tonnes, representing a 25.5 per cent increase over 43,449 tonnes that were exported between January and June 2012.
It was followed by hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 53,411 tonnes, 9 per cent more than during the first six months of last year (48,976 tonnes), and then shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), with 15,237 tonnes, 9.9 per cent less than during the same period last year (16,901 tonnes).
One of the resources that increased their shipments abroad is the hoki (Macruronus magellanicus), whose sales grew by 1.2 per cent, changing from 7,811 tonnes in the period between January and June of 2012 to 7,907 tonnes in the same period of 2013.
Also more whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) was exported, from 11,205 tonnes to 14,451 tonnes (28.9 per cent), Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica), from 2,857 to 3,223 tonnes (12.8 per cent); and trout (Cynoscion striatus), from 5,957 to 6,039 tonnes (1.3 per cent).