(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In recent years, Vietnam tilapia exports showed a positive growth, particularly posted a sharp rise from 2012 to 2014 with the growth rate of 76-265%. Tilapia importers from Vietnam also increased from 8 markets in 2005 to 68 ones in 2015. With orientations of MARD to strengthen the production and development of tilapia as a key farmed species, Vietnam tilapia exports in the coming years expected to continue the positive growth.
In 2015, Vietnam tilapia exports reached US$34 million, down 4.6% from the year prior. However, in the first half of 2016, the figure estimated at nearly US$14 million, 8-fold higher than the same period in 2015. Vietnamese tilapia was destined to 53 markets. In which, top 10 major importers, including the U.S, Colombia, the Netherlands, Turkey, Italy, Belgium, Spain, Germany, South Korea and Saudi Arabia, accounted for 70% of total export value.
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VIETNAM TILAPIA EXPORTS (2004 – 2015)
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|
Year
|
MT
|
US$
|
Growth (%)
|
|
2004
|
974
|
1,946,196
|
|
|
2005
|
827
|
1,691,555
|
-13.1
|
|
2006
|
812
|
1,699,994
|
0.5
|
|
2007
|
412
|
1,092,550
|
-35.7
|
|
2008
|
480
|
1,258,179
|
15.2
|
|
2009
|
536
|
1,511,940
|
20.2
|
|
2010
|
848
|
2,563,928
|
69.6
|
|
2011
|
|
2,289,512
|
-10.7
|
|
2012
|
|
4,043,158
|
76.6
|
|
2013
|
|
9,794,643
|
142.3
|
|
2014
|
|
35,784,642
|
265.3
|
|
2015
|
|
34,149,143
|
-4.6
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The U.S.
The U.S. stayed as the largest tilapia importer from Vietnam, accounting for 23% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In 2015, the shipments to the U.S. gained US$7.9 million, down 11% compared to 2014. In the first 6 months of 2016, the exports to this market reached more than US$2 million, 3 times higher than that of the same period last year.
The U.S mainly imported fresh/chilled tilapia fillets (HS code 0304), picking up 74-84% of the total imports. The U.S. mostly imports the item from American countries such as Honduras, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Ecuador,. However, the imports were on the downward trend.
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Average import price of frozen tilapia into the U.S. (US$/MT)
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Suppliers
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2012
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2013
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2014
|
2015
|
|
World
|
1,987
|
2,128
|
2,413
|
2,172
|
|
China
|
1,920
|
2,139
|
2,364
|
2,095
|
|
Taiwan
|
2,289
|
2,080
|
2,557
|
2,314
|
|
Viet Nam
|
2,677
|
3,158
|
2,683
|
2,436
|
|
Thailand
|
2,199
|
2,321
|
2,477
|
2,087
|
|
Panama
|
1,901
|
1,898
|
1,986
|
1,961
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Imports of frozen whole tilapia into the U.S took up the second-highest proportion of 15-24%. Demand for this item increased continuously over the years. Vietnam was the 3rd largest source, accounting for 10% of the market share, after China (65%) and Taiwan (21%). The import volume and value of frozen whole tilapia from Vietnam into this market rocketed in 2014 - 2015. Compared with 2012, the import volume from Vietnam in 2014 was 2-fold higher, and that in 2015 was approximately 28-fold higher; the import value in 2014 was nearly 2-time higher, and that in 2015 was nearly 7-time higher.
However, in the U.S market, Vietnam tilapia had to compete strongly with Chinese tilapia due to higher average export price.
Colombia
Colombia was considered the 2nd largest importer of Vietnam tilapia in 2015, accounting for 9% of Vietnam tilapia exports. Vietnam has boosted exports to Colombia since 2014. In 2015, the tilapia exports to Colombia valued at US$3.23 million, down 13% compared to 2014. In Jan-Jun 2016, sales to this market hit US$1.6 million, accounting for 12%.
Importing demand for tilapia into Colombia increased sharply in recent years. In 2015, Colombia shifted to increasing imports of frozen whole tilapia from fresh/chilled tilapia fillets.
In the last 2 years, Vietnam remained as the biggest tilapia supplier to Colombia, accounting for 53-63% of the market share. In 2015, the import volume from Vietnam increased more than 8 times, and the value went up 11 times. Vietnam had a good advantage in exports of frozen whole tilapia to Colombia, while that of China was frozen tilapia fillets.
In Colombia, Vietnam tilapia had a good advantage thanks to lower export prices of frozen tilapia than China’s and the price from Vietnam tended to increase in the last 2 years. The average export price from Vietnam in 2016 continued the rise. As of Apr 2016, the price quoted at US$2,700/MT, while the price from China decreased to US$1,700/MT.
The EU
In 2015, the EU imported 22 thousand MT of tilapia, worth by US$58 million. The Netherlands was the largest importer in the bloc, accounting for 10%. In 2015, the Netherlands bought 5.4 thousand MT of tilapia, worth by nearly US$14 million. Vietnam was the 4th largest supplier to the market, accounting for 10% of the market share.
The average tilapia price imported from Vietnam was US$2,600/MT in 2015, up 18% compared to 2014, US$800/MT higher than the price from China. The price in QI/2016 continued to increase to US$2,900/MT.
The Netherlands was the 3rd largest importer of Vietnam tilapia. Vietnam mainly exported frozen whole tilapia (HS code 0303) to the Netherlands. In 2015, the exports of this item to the market totaled US$2.66 million, down 4% compared to 2014. The figure in the first 6 months of 2016 estimated at US$1.48 million, up 8 times over the same period of 2015.
Forecast
Thanks to the rise in demand, higher import prices, diversification strategies of farmed species and exported products and development policies of tilapia sector into large manufacturing sector, Vietnam tilapia exports this year expected to hit US$45 million, up 32% compared to 2015; processing and exporting of tilapia will continue to thrive in the coming years.
Written by Le Hang
Compiled by Dieu Thuy