(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's cephalopod exports continued to slow down. The export value in August reached nearly US$64 million, down 7.8% compared with August 2017. However, thanks to the good growth in the previous months, the total export value in the first eight months was up 3.5% over the same period, reaching US$417 million.
South Korea
After the decline in July, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to South Korea rebounded. The export value to this market reached US$26 million, up 19% from August 2017; the figure bringing in the first eight months of 2018 estimated at US$155 million, up 14% over the same period last year. South Korea remained as the largest market for Vietnamese cephalopod, especially for fresh/live/frozen and dried octopus.
Japan
Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to Japan in August 2018 continued to decrease by 12% compared with August 2017, reaching US$14.5 million. However, thanks to the good growth in the first months of the year, the total export value in the first eight months increased by 0.7% to see US$95 million.
The EU
Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to the EU continued to decline due to the impact of "yellow card" warning. In August, exports the bloc valued at US$ 7.8 million, down 24% compared with August 2017. Thus, the total export value of cephalopod to the market in the first eight months of the year still decreased by 26% over the same period, reaching US$54 million.
Italy, Spain and France continued to be the three leading importers of Vietnamese cephalopod in the EU. Of that, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to Italy and Spain continued to decline, while exports to France still increased over the same period last year.
ASEAN
In August, Vietnam’s cephalopod sales to ASEAN recovered and reached US$8.2 million, up 6.7% compared with August 2017; the figure in the first eight months of the year was nearly US$54 million, up 18% from a year before.
Thailand and the Philippines were the two largest importers of Vietnamese cephalopod in this region. Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to these two markets increased over the same period. In particular, exports to the Philippine posted the impressive growth of over 152%.
China
After strong growth in the early months of the year, two months ago, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to China were lower than last year. The export value of cephalopod to this market in August 2018 reached US$3.7 million, down 57% compared with August last year; the figure in the first eight months of the year hit nearly US$34 million, up 14% over the same period.