The Industrial Development Society (Sofofa) reported that between January and June 2010 the volume of industrial exports fell by 6.7 per cent compared to the same period in 2009. 

 

This decline was partly caused by lower shipments of fishmeal (-49 per cent), salmon (-28.4 per cent) and refrigerated fish (-18.6 per cent), among other products. 

 

It is thought that salmon exports declined as a result of the adjustment process in the fishing industry after the outbreaks of Infectious Salmon Anaemia (ISA) across multiple farms in the country during 2007. 

 

Sofofa indicated that the value of industrial exports totaled USD 8,803 million, which is 5.6 per cent more than the same period last year. 

 

The value increased as a result of higher prices for salmon, cellulose and copper products.

 

"Although many plants were affected by the earthquake (which occurred in February 2010), they have been gradually improving, although many of them are not operating to full capacity, which translates into lower physical shipments," noted Sofofa. 

 

Salmon led industrial exports in the first half of 2010, with shipments of USD 992 million. 

 

In regards to target markets, Japan accounted for almost half the value of exports in the semester but accumulated a 9.27 per cent drop, adding to a sharp decline that showed shipments of salmon to the United States (31.2 per cent) and Europe (27.7 per cent), reports the newspaper La Tercera.