(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports in Jan 2016 reached US$38.45 million, up 9.8% year on year. Cephalopod exports in the first month of 2016 posted a positive growth compared to the same period of 2015 and the last months of 2015. Among top 9 largest markets of Vietnam cephalopod, exports to 8 markets showed positive growth, except for China & Hong Kong reporting the slump of 43%.
Among total cephalopod exports, exports of squid took the larger proportion of 52%. Out of total squid exports, exports of fresh/live/frozen squid (HS code 03) reached the highest value of US$10.9 million; sales of processed squid (HS code 16) reached US$353.4 thousand.
Sales of octopus made up 48% of total cephalopod exports and reached US$18.56 million. Out of total octopus exports, revenue of frozen/fresh/live/salt/dried octopus (HS code 03) occupied the largest proportion with US$14.92 million; sales of processed (HS code 16) hit US$3.63 million.
South Korea remained to be the leading importer of Vietnam cephalopod, representing the proportion of 40%. In Jan 2016, Vietnam exported US$15.31 million of cephalopod to South Korea, representing an year-on-year increase of 3.6%.
Among top 3 largest importers of Vietnam cephalopod, ASEAN (ranking the 3rd with the proportion of 14%) reported the highest growth in importing cephalopod from Vietnam. Sales of the item to ASEAN in Jan 2016 reached US$5.42 million, up 21% year on year.
Among top 9 markets of Vietnam cephalopod, exports of the item to the U.S. reported the sharpest increase although the market only made up the proportion of 1.3%. In Jan 2016, the U.S. imported US$503 thousand of cephalopod from Vietnam, up 167.3% year on year.
EU was downgraded to the 4th position from the 3rd with the proportion of 12.6%. In Jan 2016, total cephalopod exports to EU touched US$4,86 million, up 20% year on year.
Imports of frozen octopus into Spain
Importers from South Korea, Japan, ASEAN and EU raised importing cephalopod in the early 2016 to compensate for the decline of supply in 2015.
The average import price of frozen octopus and cuttlefish by Spain tended to reduce in 2015. However, Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to Spain recovered in Jan 2016 due to rise in import price. In Jan 2016, Vietnam’s exports to the market reached US$562 thousand, reporting an impressive growth of 312% year on year.
Written by Ngoc Thuy
Compiled by Kim Thu