(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Jan-Apr 2016, Vietnam cephalopod exports reached US$112 million in which exports to Japan reached US$27.7 million, making up 25% of the total exports. While the largest market of Vietnam cephalopod (South Korea) reduced importing the item, Vietnam cephalopod exports to Japan were stable compared to the same period of 2015.
In April 2016, cephalopod exports by Vietnam to Japan reached US$8 million, equal to the same period of last year. Exports in Jan-Apr 2016 downed slightly 1.6% year on year.
This year, Japan tends to raise importing octopus but reduce buying squid from Vietnam. Imports of squid touched US$12.7 million, down 9% while imports of octopus rose by 6% to touch US$15 million.
In Jan-Apr 2016, Japan surpassed Korea to become the largest consumer of Vietnamese squid, representing 22% of the total exports. While Japan was the second largest market of Vietnamese octopus behind Korea, making up 28% of the total.
According to ITC, in QI/2016, cephalopod imports into Japan reached 19.5 thousand MT, worth by US$127 million, down 14% in volume and 12% in value from QI/2015. In which octopus imports by the country hit 13.4 thousand MT, valued at US$87 million, down 3% and 6% respectively. Imports of squid reached 6 thousand MT, worth by US$40 million, down 31% in volume and 23% in value.
Top 5 largest squid suppliers to Japan included Thailand, China, Morocco, Vietnam and India with the respective proportion of 29%, 28,5%, 12,4%, 10% and 7,5%. The average export price of Thailand squid to Japan was the highest of US$10/kg, the price of Vietnam hit US$7.86/kg. The price of Thailand reported year-on-year rise of 3% while the price of Vietnam down 6%. This may lead to the decline of 9% in squid exports by Vietnam to Japan.
Top 5 largest octopus suppliers to Japan included China (with the market share of 37%), Morocco with 27.5%, Mauritania with 18.4%, Vietnam with 11.2% and Thailand with 2%.
With this trend, Vietnam exporters should develop value added octopus products to boost exporting to Japan.
Written by Le Hang
Compiled by Kim Thu