Seafood exports surge by 31pc

ISLAMABAD (APP) Exports of fish and fish preparations surged by 31.01 percent during the first seven months of the current fiscal year over the same period of last year. The fish and fish preparations from the country were recorded at $151.812 million during July-January (2010-11) as against the exports of $115.879 during the corresponding period of last year, Federal Bureau of Statistics reported. The seafood exports during January 2011 increased by 9.13 percent as compared to the exports of same month of last year. Fish exports during January 2011 stood at $19.923 million against the exports of $18.257 million in January 2010. As compared to the exports of $23.079 million in December 2010, the sea exports during January 2011 witnessed negative growth of 13.67 percent, FBS reported. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan had been facing problems in exports to European Union since 2007 as it had de-listed all Pakistani seafood exporters after an EU mission visited the harbour and found some deficiencies both at the harbour and at processing units. Experts believe that Pakistani seafood could earn up to $2 billion, if fishermen adopted modern fishing methods. On the other hand, exports of meat and meat preparation were increase by 52.65 percent during July-January 2010-11, FBS reported. The exports of meat and meat preparations were recorded at $82.304 million against the exports of $53.916 million in 2009-10. The exports of meat commodities during January 2011 increased by 45.95 percent as compared to the exports of last January but decreased by 7.24 percent when compared to the exports of December 2010. Meat exports in January 2011 stood at US$ 12.057 million against the exports of 8.261 million in January 2010 and $12.998 in December 2010.

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