CHAMWE KAIRA
Total of quota species landings during the third quarter of this year amounted to 76 347 metric tons, a decline of 2,8% when compared to 78 509 metric tons recorded in the third quarter of 2023.
Hake recorded the highest landings of 41 678 metric tons, followed by horse mackerel in second place recording 31 366 metric tons and in third place Monk that recorded 2 333 metric tons, according to the Namibia Statistics Agency’s Agriculture and Fishing Indicators Statistical Bulletin.
Export earnings for ‘fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ for the third quarter was valued at N$3,6 billion, an increase when compared to N$3,4 billion recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2023, the bulletin said.
The main export destination for ‘fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ for the quarter under review was Spain accounting for 40%. The main product that was exported to Spain was frozen fillets of Hake. The second and third export destinations were Zambia (18,7%) and South Africa (7,8%). The main product that was exported to Zambia was horse mackerel. In addition, frozen fillets of hake were also the main products exported to South Africa.
The import bill for ‘fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ for the quarter under review stood at N$93.5 million, a decline when compared to N$130.5 million recorded in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
The bulletin said products of ‘Fish and crustaceans, molluscs and other aquatic invertebrates’ were mainly sourced from South Africa accounting for a share of 57,1% during the quarter under review.
“The main product imported from South Africa was hake. In second place, was the United States of America which accounted for a share of 14,7%. The main product that was sourced from this country was sole. Argentina stood in third place accounting for a share of 10,7% with hake import as the main product recorded from this country,” the bulletin stated.
During the third quarter, production of controlled agronomy stood at 8 571 tons, compared to 19 940 tons recorded in the same quarter of 2023, translating into a decline of 57%.
Maize and millet production stood at 8 366 tons and 204 tons, respectively. The import bill for agronomy products stood at N$717,8 million for the third quarter, an increase compared to N$415,5 million registered in the corresponding quarter of 2023.
The bulletin said fish products during the quarter under review registered export earnings of N$3,6 billion, an increase of 6,6% compared to N$3,4 billion recorded during the third quarter of 2023. The import bill for fish products during the third quarter stood at N$93,5 million, a decrease of 28,3% compared to N$130,5 million recorded in the same quarter of 2023.
