(vasep.com.vn) In May, Vietnamese bivalve companies earned US$ 7.27 million from exports, 6.6% lower than the same period in 2014. Through May, bivalve exports reached US$ 32.6 million, presenting a 4.2% year-on-year increase.
Among Vietnam's top 8 bivalve importing markets in the first 5 months of this year, China and Hong Kong experienced has the highest growth rate of 99.5% reaching the value of US$ 399 thousand. In May only, bivalve imports grew 432% over the same period in 2014 with a value of US$ 118 thousand.
ASEAN, the second quickest growing bivalve market rose by 77.8% to US$ 1.91 million. Bivalve exports from Vietnam to this market in May valued US$ 564 thousand, up 79.8%.
EU, the world's leading bivalve importing markets paid US$ 22.5 million for Vietnamese sources in the first 5 months of this year. This is a 3.2% year-on-year rise. Portugal the biggest importing market in the EU. However, export to Portugal fell 2.9% to $ 6.6 million value. Italy ranks second in the EU reached 5.7 million, up 35% compared to the same period in 2014.
Exports to the U.S reached US$ 2.07 million from January to May 2015, was Vietnam's third biggest market. According to National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), from January to April, the US imported 7,059 MT of clams with the value of US$ 19.26 million, up 10.7% by volume and up 2.1% by value. 515.6 MT was originated from Vietnam, worth US$ 1.35 million, down 17% by volume and down 13% by value comparing with the same period of 2014.
Meanwhile, bivalve exports to Canada in the first 5 months of this year reached US$ 291 thousand, up 62.4%. Canada accounts for only 0.9% of the total bivalve exports from Vietnam.
Data from the International Trade Centre (ITC) showed that in the first quarter of the year, Canada imported fresh live clam coded HS 030771 mainly from the US and Ireland. Canada also imported frozen clams coded HS 030779 from the US and China. In addition, this market consumes processed clams (HS 160556) from 9 countries, including Vietnam. Processed clams in Canada mostly originated from the US, China and Indonesia. Vietnam is the fourth biggest source. Price for processed clam in Canada ranged from US$ 3.64 to US$ 4.03/ kg. With lower prices, it is likely that Vietnam will have more clam shipments to this market.