Argentina exported 441,255 tonnes of seafood from January to December 2013, a figure that shows a rise of 19.6 per cent compared to 2012 when 368,915 tonnes were shipped abroad.
According to statistics from the National Health and Food Quality Service (Senasa), in 2013 249,940 tonnes of fish, 5.2 per cent more than in 2012 (237,561 tonnes) were exported.
Until last December, 191,315 tonnes of seafood were also sent abroad, 45.6 per cent more than during the previous year, when 131,354 tonnes were traded.
The major export was hake (Merluccius hubbsi), with 121,017 tonnes, 10.1 per cent more than the 109,881 tonnes exported between January and December 2012.
Following were squid (Illex argentinus), with 101,171 tonnes, 84 per cent more than in 2012 (54,966 tonnes), and shrimp (Pleoticus muelleri), with 81,276 tonnes, 20.3 per cent more than the previous year (67,515 tonnes).
Among the resources that increased their shipments abroad is the Patagonian anchovy (Engraulis anchovy), whose sales rose 5.5 per cent, from 9,038 tonnes in January-December 2012 to 9,537 tonnes in 2013.
More whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) was exported: 41,441 against 35,950 tonnes in the previous year (an increase of 15.2 per cent yoy), and more short-tailed stingray (Potamotrygon brachyura), from 5,542 to 5,693 tonnes (2.7 per cent increase), and weakfish (Cynoscion striatus) from 14,173 to 15,142 tonnes (up 6.8 per cent).
Similarly, between January and December last year 5,518 tonnes of Patagonian scallop (Zygochlamys patagonica) were sent abroad, that is to say, 2.7 per cent more than in 2012 (5,369 tonnes).
Among the species that recorded declines when comparing 2013 with 2012 are Argentinan hoki (Macruronus magellanicus), down 12.9 per cent (from 14,475 to 12,620 tonnes) and golden kingclip (Genypterus blacodes), down 28 per cent (from 3,595 to 2,590 tonnes).