The gross output of the industry, which is made up of fish farming and other output, rose by 49.1 per cent, from €86.4 million in 2006 to €128.8 million in 2007, mainly on account of an increase in the value of fish sold, which rose by 41.2 per cent to €103.2 million in 2007.
The volume of fresh fish sold advanced by 19.9 per cent, from 7.1 thousand tonnes in 2006 to 8.6 thousand tonnes in 2007. Complementing this increase in volume was a general rise in the average price of fresh fish sold, which went up by 17.8 per cent to €12.02 per kilogram in 2007.
Similarly, intermediate consumption, which takes into account the expenses incurred in the production of farmed fish, in 2007 rose by 74.5 per cent, from €56.9 million in 2006 to €99.3 million in 2007.
The purchases of live fish and fingerlings, while making up 43.7 per cent of all intermediate consumption in 2006, rose by 103.2 per cent in 2007. The percentage share of live fish and fingerlings purchased amounted to 50.9 per cent of the total intermediate consumption in 2007, up by 7.2 percentage points from 43.7 per cent in 2006.
The increase in the value of fresh fish purchased resulted from an increase in the volume of fresh fish purchased (+39.6 per cent) complemented by a rise in the price per kilogram by 45.5 per cent over 2006.
Other noticable production costs which registered significant increases in 2007, were fuel costs which rose by 114.3 per cent over 2006 and variable production costs, which rose by 45.5 per cent, mainly due to the increase in the purchases of fish feed (+29.1 per cent).
The factor income of the aquaculture industry, which takes into account the difference between the gross output and intermediate consumption, declined slightly by 0.5 per cent to €27.1 million in 2007. The compensation of employees in 2007, which made up 15.3 per cent of the factor income of the industry, increased by 22.7 per cent when compared to 2006.
On the other hand, entrepreneurial income, which made up 87.1 per cent in 2006, declined by 5.3 per cent to €22.5 million in 2007. In 2007, entrepreneurial income made up 82.8 per cent of the total factor income of the industry
Chile: a Year of Aquaculture in Numbers
CHILE - An aquaculture census carried out last year revealed that the factor incomeof the aquaculture industry declined marginally by 0.5 per cent, to 27.1million in 2007.
