Peru's seafood exports hit US$336.2mn in first 2 months

According to the latest figures released by the sector, the exported volume grew by 121.2 percent, from 87,600 tonnes in February 2013 to 193,800 tonnes in 2014. This rise was mainly due to higher sales of fishmeal and fish oil.

The Peruvian minister noted that between January and February 2014 the sale of 408,400 tonnes of fisheries products abroad generated US$ 700.5 million while in the same period last year, 157.800 tonnes had been exported for US$ 318.7 million.

Meanwhile, in February 2014 total exports of fish meal amounted to 136.600 tonnes, a 292.5 percent increase over the same month in 2013 (34,800 tonnes).

With respect to the value, in the second month of the year fishmeal was exported for US$ 189.5 million, a 198.8 per cent more than in February 2013, when the figure had totalled US$ 63.4 million.

In the first two months of 2014 a total of 290.700 tonnes of fishmeal was exported, a 335.2 percent increase over the same period in 2013 (66,800 tonnes).

The main markets for Peruvian fishmeal were China, Chile, Germany and Vietnam, who bought 242,443.1 tonnes of total sales through February 2014.

February’s exports increased sales of fishmeal abroad in the first two months to US$ 398.8 million, a 234.6 per cent increase over the same period in 2013 (US$ 119.2 million).

Meanwhile, crude oil exports totaled 14,300 tonnes in February for US$ 30 million, that is to say, 97.3 percent more than in the same month in 2013 (US$ 15.6 million).

Considering the first two months of 2014, a total of 38,600 tonnes of oil was sold abroad, a 297.9 percent increase over the same period last year (6,200 tonnes), fis.com reported.

Chile, Belgium, Denmark and Japan absorbed 30,353.2 tonnes of total exports of fish oil registered until last February. These sales generated US$ 92.4 million, an amount that represents a rise of 450 percent over the same period in 2013 (US$ 16.8 million).

In February 2014 about 31,600 tonnes of frozen products were also exported, a volume that accounts for a decrease of 19.2 percent from 39,100 tonnes exported a year earlier.

In the first two months of 2014 a total of 58,000 tonnes of frozen products was sold abroad, 6.9 percent less than in the same period of 2013 (62,300 tonnes).

Peru seafood production up 22% y-o-y in March

Peru’s fishery production in March 2014 grew by 22.34% year-on-year due to larger landings of maritime species for direct human consumption, and the restart of fishmeal and oil output, which had been stopped in March last year.

The Peruvian institute for statistics noted that sea surface temperatures on the country’s coasts were below average figures. The biggest drops were registered in the areas of Talara with -3.2 degrees Celcius, and Paita with -2.6.

Landings for direct human consumption rose by 20.19%, pushed by catches of fish for frozen processing (25.22% up to 65,400 metric tons) like giant squid, shrimp, squid, eel, shark, octopus, anchovy and tuna.

Also landings for fresh consumption grew (21% up to 35,300t): bonito, hake, mackerel, sole, squid, giant squid, octopus, tuna, and other seafood.

Catches of species for the fish canning sector declined by 22.3% to 9,700t and by 36.4% to 900t those for curing process.

In the southern region, in Ilo port, capture of anchovy for industrial use began with 10,000 metric tons. Regarding reproductive indicators, it was observed that spawning of this pelagic started to fall following a normal pattern.

Inland fishing increased by 12%, with capture of fresh fish species up by 14,29% and for frozen product by 81.6%, but the institute did not provide volume numbers.

In the first quarter of 2014, catch of anchovy for indirect human consumption reached 229,300 metric tons, which represented a 42.4% drop comparing to the same period in 2013.