(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2016, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the EU reached US$40.2 million, up 0.4% compared to the same period last year. In particular, pangasius exports to Spain and German posted a rise of 34% and 14.3%, respectively. However, the figure to the Netherlands fell by 11.6%; and the UK with -11.8% over the same period of 2015.
In QI/2015, the euro exchange rate and import-reducing policy in the EU affected seafood suppliers to the EU. Among the 5 largest pangasius importers of Vietnam, pangasius exports to the UK remained the growth in 2015, while exports to the other markets slowed down.
In 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the EU expected to increase. According to the Globefish, in 2015, the EU’s imports of frozen pangasius fillets registered the fall both in value and volume. In Mar-Apr 2015, the pangasius import price reached the highest level of US$2.45-US$2.48/kg. In 2015, the total pangasius imports of the EU estimated at 110,000 MT, equal to 2013 and import prices also decreased by US$0.5-1/kg compared to the year prior.
In 2015, whitefish products imported into the EU went up. Of that, the share of frozen cod fillets made up 25.08% of the total import value of whitefish; and frozen Alaska pollock fillets accounted for about 17%. The import value of frozen pangasius and catfish fillets into the EU accounts for about 6.25% of the total import value of whitefish. Main import markets in the EU bloc were Spain, the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, and France. (Chart: Imports of frozen pangasius fillets into EU in 2015)
Building and promoting the image, prestige of Vietnam pangasius is always prioritized to combat unfair competition through campaign of smear Vietnamese pangasius via mass media. In the EU, Vietnam pangasius must compete with tilapia products from China. With the advantage of competitive price, Vietnam pangasius exporters are making efforts to increase value-added products and market share in the EU market.
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Whitefish imports into EU in 2015 (US$ thousands)
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HS code
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Products
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QI
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QII
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QIII
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QIV
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2015
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|
030471
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Frozen cod fillets
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378,013
|
316,914
|
320,032
|
280,710
|
1,295,669
|
|
030475
|
Frozen Alaska Pollack fillets
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214,317
|
198,888
|
220,987
|
236,556
|
870,748
|
|
030363
|
Frozen cod
|
143,052
|
167,596
|
176,202
|
153,527
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640,377
|
|
030474
|
Frozen Hake fillets
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117,651
|
130,693
|
136,503
|
116,366
|
501,213
|
|
030462
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Frozen pangasius and catfish fillets
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78,218
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81,235
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81,570
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79,937
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320,960
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|
030251
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Fresh/ iced cod
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182,761
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140,137
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86,102
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79,079
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488,079
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030254
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Fresh/ iced Hake
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59,862
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57,407
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56,054
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63,218
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236,541
|
|
030366
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Frozen Hake
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43,190
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48,272
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50,402
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59,805
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201,669
|
|
030472
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Frozen Haddock fillets
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55,693
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37,941
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39,113
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36,344
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169,091
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|
030494
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Frozen Alaska Pollack meat
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16,273
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29,290
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25,407
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29,536
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100,506
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030252
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Fresh/ iced Haddock
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27,007
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29,243
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26,242
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23,199
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105,691
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|
030461
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Frozen tilapia fillets
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19,480
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16,061
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18,554
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16,806
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70,901
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|
030364
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Frozen Haddock
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21,568
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14,530
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9,113
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13,247
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58,458
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|
030323
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Frozen tilapia
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8,705
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7,229
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9,723
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8,229
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33,886
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|
030367
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Frozen Alaska Pollack
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4,031
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4,766
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2,856
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5,851
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17,504
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030432
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Chilled/fresh pangasius and catfish
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6,071
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5,391
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4,764
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4,767
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20,993
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|
030324
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Frozen pangasius and catfish
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2,396
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2,820
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3,065
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2,758
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11,039
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|
030431
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Fresh/chilled tilapia fillets
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2,403
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2,707
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2,583
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2,728
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10,421
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030271
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Fresh/chilled tilapia
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2,022
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2,238
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1,857
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2,118
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8,235
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030272
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Fresh/chilled tilapia pangasius and catfish
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2,117
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1,901
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1,522
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1,572
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7,112
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Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy