(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In January 2016, the total value of Vietnam seafood exports reached US$578.4 million, increase of 14.1%. Many businesses hope seafood exports will have a favourable year. However, this year while Vietnam step closer to the wide playing field of integration, seafood exports may encounter some presures.
While, the export value of 3 main products of shrimp, tuna and pangasius dropped 20.3%; 12.2% and 21.8% in January 2015 compared with the same period a year ago, exports in Jan 2016 increased compared with the same period of 2015. In which, shrimp exports increased 10.2%; increase of 8.3% in pangasius shipment; tuna sale up 11%; other fish increased 32.2%; up 12.7% in cephalopods; crabs and other crustaceans increased 46.3%.
In 2015 shrimp exports plunged the most among Vietnam's seafood products with negative growth of 25.3%, reaching US$2.95 billion and accounting for 44% of Vietnam seafood exports. In which, white leg shrimp exports accounted for 59% to US$1.74 billion dollars, down 25% compared with the previous year. Black tiger shrimp exports accounted for 32.6% to US$963 million, decreased 30.5%. In the year, reduced exports and low prices, Vietnam shrimp could not compete on price with shrimp from India, Thailand, China or Indonesia. In 2015, Vietnam even is the second largest import market of India only after the US.
Thanks to efforts to balance domestic production, import of raw materials, in January 2016, the shrimp export value is higher, in which whiteleg shrimp exports increased 4.7%, and export of black tiger shrimp increased 22.6% compared to January 2015.
In January 2016, the pangasius exports totaled US$149.3 million, up 8.3% compared to the same period a year ago. However, the increase of pangasius exports at this time does not mean that the results of all year will be positive. Exports to the US is expected to decrease this year because of affection from USDA new rule on catfish inspection applied on catfish and pangasius imports.
In January 2016, exports of marine products rather well grew. Exports of tuna reached US$36.8 million, up 11%; other fish reached US$105.9 million, increase of 32.2%; cephalopod exports recorded US$38.4 million, increase by 9.8% and bivalve mollusk with US$7.26 million, up 33.5%; crab and other crustaceans brought US$13 million, up 46.3% compared to the same period a year ago.
In January 2016, exports to many large markets have positive growths: the US 26.4%; the EU 5.7%; Japan rising 4.7%; China and Hong Kong rose 41.6%; ASEAN increased 35.2%; South Korea up 12.3%; Australia 5.9%. But exports to Canada decreased 37.7%; Taiwan reduced 20.3%; Mexico down 25% compared with the same period a year ago.