(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2017, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports totaled US$107.1 million, up 31.4% over the same period last year. In QI/2016, exports of squid and octopus picked up the equal proportion, and tended to decline. However, in QI/2017, shipments of squid and octopus witnessed the positive growth and the proportion of these two items had more disparity.
Vietnam cephalopod was exported to 43 markets, down 7 markets compared to 50 markets in QI/2016. Sales to top three largest buyers including South Korea, ASEAN and Japan showed the rise.
In the period, Vietnam continued to increase imports of raw materials from countries due to a shortage in the domestic market.
In QI/2017, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to South Korea hit US$40.1 million, up 27.9% over the same period last year. South Korea remained as the biggest buyer of Vietnam cephalopod, accounting for 37%, down 1% compared to QI/2016.
Japan stayed as the second largest importer of Vietnam cephalopod, picking up 24% in Vietnam's total cephalopod exports. This share is almost equal to QI/2016. In the first three months of 2017, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to the market valued at US$26.2 million, up 32.6% over the same period last year.
In QI/2017, Vietnam’s squid exports accounted for 58.7% in total cephalopod exports, up from 51.5% in the same period of 2016. In the period, shipments of both squid and octopus showed the positive growth after a year-on-year slump. In QI/2016, the proportion of squid and octopus was almost equal, however, in QI/2017, it had more disparity. In the first three months of 2017, the export value of octopus accounted for 41.3%, down from 48.5% in QI/2016.
Out of 3 groups of squid products, exports of live/fresh/frozen squid and other processed squid (HS code 03) posted a year-on-year growth, while those of dried/grilled squid (HS code 03) saw the decrease of 0.3%. Exports of processed octopus (HS code 16) reduced by 6%, while those of this item increased by 29.7% at the same period in 2016. Shipments of fresh/live/frozen/salted/dried octopus in the period increased by 16.7%, while those in QI/2016 decreased by 11.9%.
Written by Ngoc Thuy
Compiled by Dieu Thuy