Fish and fishery exports reaching all-time high in 2021

by PRIYAN DE SILVA

Figures released by the Ministry of Fisheries indicate that 2021 is going to be a record year for the export of fish and fishery products, both in quantity as well as revenue.

The quantity of fish and fishery products exported from January to November 2021, was 2,4229 metric tonnes and it is expected surpass the 2,8771 metric tonne recorded in 2019. Value wise, export income in the first 11 months of 2021 is 287 million USD while the highest export revenue was 299 million USD in 2019.

The quantity of fish imported upto end November 2021 was 52,246 metric tonnes worth USD 116 million while it was 85,809.11 metric tonnes worth USD 191,373 million USD last year. The highest quantity of fish imported was in 2015 (120,046 metric tonnes worth 226.052 million USD).

The balance in fish trade this year is 170.98 million USD, which is an all time high. The previous high was USD 122.066 million in 2014 while the all-time low was in 2016.