(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's exports of crabs and other crustaceans continued to see high growth in September 2024, with a 54% increase compared to the same period in 2023. In the first nine months of the year, exports of crabs and other crustaceans reached over USD 228 million, a 67% increase year-over-year.
China & Hong Kong, Japan, the United States, Canada, and South Korea were the top five import markets for Vietnamese crabs and other crustaceans as of the end of September 2024, accounting for more than 96% of total export value.
In the Chinese market, where live Vietnamese crabs are popular, the export volume of crabs to China in the first nine months of the year soared, increasing by 784% compared to the same period in 2023.
In Japan, Vietnam's second-largest import market, crab exports remained at a similar level as the previous year. Currently, seafood consumption in Japan, including crabs and other crustaceans, is at a record low due to high prices. The price of seafood in Japan has increased by 40% in recent years, much higher than the increase in meat prices.
Along with China and Japan, the U.S. is also a major market for Vietnamese crab and other crustacean exports, accounting for nearly 23% of total export value. However, export value to the U.S. has been declining for the past three months. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in earlier months, exports to the U.S. in the first nine months of the year still increased by 8% compared to the same period.
According to businesses, Vietnamese crab products remain popular in many markets due to their high quality, free from antibiotics and harmful bacteria. As a result, exports of this product group are expected to continue growing in the final months of the year as the holiday season approaches.