Between January and June 2013, salmon and trout exports totalled USD 1,696 million, that is to say, 3.2 per cent more than in the same period last year.
The volume of exports increased by 17.8 per cent in the same period, changing from 252,600 tonnes in the first half of 2012 to 297,600 tonnes this year, according to a report issued by InfoTrade.
This large increase in exported volumes was due to a significant growth in shipments of Atlantic salmon: 150,500 tonnes were exported, representing a rise of 51.1 per cent over 2012.
The volume of exports of Pacific salmon had a positive variation of 6.6 per cent in the first six months of this year while shipments of trout fell 14.5 per cent.
Volume growth was partially offset by lower average prices obtained in the half of 2013 by the industry, which was USD 5.70 per kilogram, which is 12.4 per cent lower than in the same period in 2012 (6.51/kg).
Comparatively, Atlantic salmon recorded a price having the lowest reduction (-1.2 per cent), followed by price declines of trout (-16.5 per cent) and Pacific salmon (-36.3 per cent).
United States was the main destination market in value terms, with purchases worth USD 542 million, up 31.9 per cent over the same period last year.
This market shipments totalled 64,900 net tonnes, up 30.1 per cent year-on-year.
The average selling price was USD 8.35/kg, that is to say, 1.4 per cent more than during the first six months of last year, according to the report issued by InfoTrade.
In volume terms, the main target market was Japan: it imported 98,100 tonnes, 18.4 per cent less than the first half of 2012.
The returns for the shipments to the Japanese market amounted to USD 445 million, 42.6 per cent less than in the same period of 2012, reported Aqua.