The trade balance of fisheries recorded a surplus of 172.6 million dinars (MD) during the first eight months of 2018, compared with 160.3 million dinars in the same period of the year 2017.
The quantities exported have recorded, up to the end of August 2017, an increase of 23.5%, to 16,399.8 tons, worth of 347.9 MD against 13,280.2 tons with a value of 173.3 MD during the same period of 2017.
In value terms, the increase is 74.6 MD (+ 27.3%), the Ministry of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries said in a statement released Monday in Tunis.
In volume terms, the increase is explained by a significant rise in the quantities of crab exported, from 290.9 tons in the first eight months of 2017 to almost 2,032.2 tons in the same period of 2018.
Similarly, in value, exports increased from 2 million dinars in 2017 to 13.2 billion in 2018.
Regarding aquaculture (sea bream), exports tripled until the end of August 2018, compared to the same period of 2017, from 9.5 million to 28.6 million.
Thus, the quantities exported grew from 733.6 tons to 2065.2 tons.
As for exports of octopus, the increase is estimated at 15 MD, driven by the improvement of export prices, i.e. an evolution of 62.5%.
In return, imports of fishery products reached nearly 29,626.6 tons valued at 175.3 MD, until the end of August 2018, against 20,404.3 tons, with a value of 112.7 million in the same period of 2017, i.e. an increase in terms of quantity of 9,222.6 tons (+ 45%) and 62.6 million (+ 55%) in terms of value.
The increase in imports of fishery products is due to the rise in imports of frozen tuna, up 10,176 tons in terms of quantities and of 47.3 MD in terms of value.
