Analytical and economical study of prices and Egyptian fish foreign trade

Fish production is a key element in Agricultural policy in Egypt for being a major source for animal protein. Fishes are a better alternative from economical,. social and nutritious points of view. Despite the substantial increase in domestic fish production. it only satisfies 80 % of total fish demand in Egypt in 2007. This resulted in fish food gap in the country and the need for importing fishes. which were valued by aboutl222 million L.E as opposed to 25 million L.E. only of fish export in that year. It has also resulted in total deficit in the balance of paymerk in that year by about 1197 million L.E. The study focuses on five major fish species in Egypt namely Tilapia, Mullet, Shrimp. Cat fish and Sardine. These fishes are main fish consumptional and commercial patterns in the country. Their market prices are moderate and the fishes are successfully farmed. which help in maintaining equitable fish supply in local markets. These five species have also helped in satisfying 50% of total fish sufficiency ratio in the 1996-2007 period of study. The study aims at analyzing seasonal productivity and annual price variation of these fish species and at investigating their commercial structure in quantity and value terms. calculating price and total coverage rates of fishes in Egyptian foreign trade. This study reaches the following results: The estimated trend of fish catch of the studied fish species is increasing annually except for Sardine. The calculated annual prices changes of these species varies widely by low rate of about 2.6% for Mullet and high rate of about 8% for Shrimp. Seasonal analysis of prices in the period of study (2004-2007) reveals high monthly index higher than one. particularly. for Sardine. The commercial structure of fish foreign trade in Egypt suffers from chronic deficit in quantity during the period of study by about 197 thousand tons annually and in value by about 534 million L.E. annually. The country is a net importer in world fish trade. The calculated coverage rate of the country during the period of study is only 3.2 % annually.Some recommendations has been reached in the study so as to increase local catches and to improve the commercial structure of fish foreign trade.