Moroccan canned-fish exports recorded a 3 % increase in 1999

The Moroccan canned-fish sector exported 56,651 tons in 1999 with revenues totaling $ 135 million, an increase of 3 %, reports the weekly bulletin "infos-CGEM" of the Moroccan general confederation of enterprises.

The increase, says the bulletin, was achieved despite adverse conditions such as irregular landings of fish-products, a hike in their prices and the slump in the FF and Euro value, the two currencies accounting for 83 % of foreign sales.

The fish products processed and exported are mainly sardines (96 %) and mackerels (4 %), the same source said. The European market soaked 52 % of Moroccan exports followed by African countries with a total of 33 %. The Middle-east gets 10 % and the Americas get a mere 5 % of canned fish products.