According to Peruvian Ministry of Production the nation’s seafood exports totaled 2.25 million metric tons in 2008, a 15.6 percent increase from 2007. It is told that the value of totaled export amounted to USD 2.4 billion (EUR 1.9 million), up 24.1 percent from 2007. The increase in seafood exports is mainly attributed to sales of fishmeal (up 23.7 percent), frozen seafood (up 16.7 percent) and cured seafood products (up 6.3 percent), which occurred despite the fall of the average international fishmeal price.
The authority also revealed that the export was down 5.6 percent compared to 2006 figure, while the average price of fish oil increased 88.2 percent compared to 2007. The rise in the average fish oil price boosted foreign currency earnings 44.5 percent, despite the lower export volume. According the National Superintendency of Tax Administration (Sunat) the seafood exports increased by a greater margin than Peru’s total exports, which amounted to USD 31 billion (EUR 24.3 million) in 2008, a 12.1 percent increase from 2007.
Fishing Vice Minister Alfonso Miranda told that the demand for fish oil is up worldwide. He also said that the Peruvian fish oil stands out because the anchovy has a high concentration of fatty acids as the omega-3s, and this has made to increase its value. It is expected that this year will turn ouot some good results too.
