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Photo: Parte de Pesca/FIS
Argentina Exported 85.3% of Its Seafood Products as 'Unprocessed' in 2024
ARGENTINA
Thursday, January 23, 2025, 00:10 (GMT + 9)
Official data released by Argentina’s National Institute of Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) paints a stark picture of the fishing industry.
 According to the 2024 Trade Balance report published on Monday, 85.3% of Argentina’s seafood exports were shipped without significant processing, as reported by Nelson Saldivia from Parte de Pesca.
Export Figures Reflecting Minimal Value Addition
The report highlights that Argentina’s seafood exports—fish, crustaceans, and mollusks—generated $1.981 billion in 2024. While this figure reflects the industry's steady foreign currency contribution, the composition of these exports is concerning. INDEC reports that $1.691 billion came from unprocessed seafood, while only $290 million came from processed products. This disparity underscores the sector’s reliance on raw material exports with minimal value addition.
The Root of the Issue
This trend is not new. For years, the bulk of Argentina’s seafood exports have consisted of raw materials with little or no processing. The primary reason lies in the unfavorable conditions for producing value-added products that can compete in international markets.
In 2024, the squid sector stood out as the most successful, with 154,565 tons of Illex argentinus captured and sold at favorable international prices, primarily to China. However, most of this squid was exported in unprocessed blocks.
Souece: INDEC/Nelson Saldivia | Click on the image to enlarge it
Processing Abroad: A Profitable Alternative
“With a 9% export duty on shrimp blocks over 2 kilograms, it’s currently more profitable to export the blocks for processing in Peru, Paraguay, or an Asian country and then ship the final product to Europe than to process them in Argentina,” explained an executive from a leading multinational company operating in the country.
Argentina’s high production costs, inflationary pressures (only recently easing), dollarized wages, rigid labor agreements, high taxes, and export duties collectively explain why most seafood is exported with minimal processing.
Photo: courtesy Revista Puerto
Time to Reassess the Labor Framework
Successive governments have repeatedly promised to add value to seafood products, yet little has been done to create a truly competitive environment for high-value processing. Despite these challenges, some companies have independently invested in technology and developed value-added products that cater to niche markets.
Within the industry, there is growing recognition of the need to reevaluate labor structures. For example, cooperative systems permitted under current labor laws remain restricted in provinces like Chubut, despite their potential to improve efficiency. Encouragingly, Chubut has expanded its Free Trade Zone to Trelew, offering significant tax benefits. However, skepticism remains about how effectively these measures will be implemented, given the bureaucratic hurdles that have derailed similar initiatives in the past.
Photo: Stockfile/FIS
Chubut's government appears committed to reviewing its labor framework, including agreements with the Food Industry Workers Union (STIA), to create a more competitive environment and attract new investments in value-added production. These steps could build trust and unlock long-term strategic growth.
“No Sustainability Without Profitability”
The INDEC report confirms what industry insiders have long known: the bulk of Argentina’s seafood exports remain unprocessed, reflecting deep-rooted challenges in competitiveness.
Photo: courtesy La Dársena
To ensure sustainability, the fishing industry must tackle structural barriers and advocate for policies that deliver real economic impact. A pressing issue remains the industry's ability to effectively communicate a fundamental truth: there can be no sustainability without business profitability.
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