According to CAPECA Argentina's report, Argentina's fisheries exports in the first half of 2023 totaled more than 200,000 tons with a total value of $824 million. Compared with 2022, the total and total value of exports remained basically stable.

The level of sales was similar to the same period last year, but by variety analysis, there was a decrease in demand for Argentine whole shrimp and squid. Shrimp tails and cod fillets have also been increased, but prices have dropped.

Silver cod and king crab have maintained high sales and prices mainly from the United States.

In the face of changing consumption habits and fierce competition from South American white shrimp, the demand for Argentine red shrimp has continued to decline and prices have fallen. Exports for the period were 8% lower than in 2022 and prices were 18% lower, with 17,380 tonnes sold at $94.7 million. The average price is $5,450, with some markets going even lower.

China has started some purchases of whole shrimp, but has failed to make up for the decline in the Spanish market. Demand from China increased by 106%, with sales of 3,800 tonnes, and prices were 22% lower than in 2022, trading at $5,655 per tonne. Russia bought at a similar price, but demand increased by a surprising 312%, or 2,390 tonnes.

Sales of shrimp tails showed a different picture: up 86 per cent to 40,000 tonnes exported, but prices fell 5.5 per cent to $7,493 per tonne.

The largest buyer of Argentine red shrimp tails was China, which bought 13,000 tonnes, representing an important recovery for the market, up from just 2,500 tonnes last year. Although it is the least paid, at $7,000 a tonne. Spain, which produced 5,600 tons, was the second largest buyer, with a 55% increase in demand, and although the price was lower than last year (5%), it was one of the highest paying countries at $7,848.

Argentina exported 75,358 tons of squid, 34.7% less than in 2022, and the price increased by 2% to about $2,172 per ton. The decline in demand is not only due to insufficient supply of resources, but also due to a shrinking market.

The main buyer was South Korea, which bought 18,000 tonnes, but demand was 37% lower than last year and the price was below average at $2,028 per tonne. The second largest buyer, China, saw its demand for Argentine squid decrease by 17 percent from last year, with prices below average, but increased by 5 percent compared to 2022 to $2,015 per ton.

The sharp drop in demand occurred in several major markets. Thailand purchases fell 63 percent from 21,000 tonnes to 8,000 tonnes, and prices were 3.6 percent higher than last year. In Singapore, on the other hand, prices fell by one percentage point to close at $1,968 per tonne, but this did not improve sales: on the contrary, prices fell by 41 per cent. Finally, Spain bought the most expensive Argentine squid on the market at $3,322 per ton, a price increase of 6.6%, but the purchase volume was 53% less than in 2022, and the demand was only 3,280 tons.

Demand for Hubbsi cod fillets continues to grow, with exports up 5% in the first half of the year to a total of 28,000 tonnes. However, the average price of the product decreased by 0.9% to $3,225 per ton. In addition to cod fillets, sales of frozen cod products also increased slightly, totaling 15,745 tons at an average price of $1,532 per ton.

Sales and prices of the two products, codfish and king crab, remained stable, with the main buyers being the United States.

The above data shows that the market demand and prices of various products vary. Demand for Hubbsi cod and shrimp tails increased, but prices declined. Demand and prices for whole shrimp and squid fell.

In addition, the needs of national markets have also changed. Demand declined in key markets such as Israel, Brazil and the United States, while it increased in markets such as Spain and Italy.