(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of Oct 2016, Vietnam’s exports of 3 key items including shrimp, pangasius and tuna have increased slightly over the same period last year. However, due to difficulties in production of raw materials as well as strong competition in most major importing markets, Vietnam’s seafood exports haven’t marked a breakthrough.
Shrimp
Through Oct 2016, Vietnam’s shrimp exports valued at US$2.58 billion, up 5.2% compared to the same period last year. Of which, exports of black tiger shrimp fell by 4.8% but those of whiteleg shrimp increased by 11.3%. Total shrimp exports continued to go up thanks to the good growth in the export value to three major markets including the U.S, EU, China.
The U.S remained as the largest importer of Vietnam’s shrimp, accounting for 23.4% of total exports. In the period, the U.S was the biggest consumption market for whiteleg shrimp of Vietnam’s enterprises. According to Vietnam Customs, shipments of processed whiteleg shrimp (HS code 16) were almost 2-time higher than those of fresh/live/frozen whiteleg shrimp (HS code 03). Also according to the ITC, at present, Vietnam ranked the 4th largest suppler of shrimp to the U.S. While shrimp imports from the large suppliers such as Indonesia, India, Thailand, and Ecuador into the U.S fell in the first half of this year, those from Vietnam increased slightly over the same period last year.
China expected to be a potential importing market in 2017. As of Oct 2016, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to this market increased by 24.7% over the same period in 2015. The import demand for shrimp in China keeps growing strongly, while the country's shrimp production predicted to decline to 1.2-1.3 million MT in 2016 from 1.5 million MT in 2015 due to diseases.
Pangasius
Vietnam’s pangasius to the U.S and China are in the first 10 months of this year showed the good growth. During this period, total pangasius exports of Viet Nam reached US$1.39 billion, a slight increase of 6.4% over the same period last year. In particular, shipments to the U.S and China recorded the year-on-year rise of 22.7% and 76.1%, respectively; and both accounted for 39.9% of total exports.
So far, high anti-dumping duty and catfish inspection program has not influenced much to exports to the U.S. Currently, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the U.S still had to fiercely compete with Chinese tilapia in this market.
Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China reached US$235.5 million in the first 10 months of this year. The gap between China and the U.S, the largest importing market, is increasingly shrinking. In 2017, China could replace the U.S to rank as the largest buyer of Vietnam’s pangasius.
Tuna
As of Oct 2016, Vietnam’s tuna exports gained US$410 million, up 5.2% compared to the same period last year. During this period, Vietnam’s enterprises tended to boost exports of frozen tuna loins (HS code 0304) and steamed tuna loins or flake form (HS code 1604). Exports of frozen tuna loins reached US$196.3 million, accounting for 47.8% of total tuna exports.
So far, Vietnam’s tuna exports to some major importing markets reported a slight year-on-year rise. Of that exports to the US increased by 0.6%; those to EU up 4.9%, those to ASEAN up 16.8%; those to Israel up 22.7%; and those to China up 54.6% over the same period last year. Total tuna exports in 2016 expected to rise by 5-7% compared to the same period last year.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy