(pangasius-vietnam.com) In the first two months of 2012, pangasius export value of Vietnam approached US$264 million, up 18.6 percent from the same period of 2011. In Feb 2012, pangasius exports reached US$148.3 million, showing a 75 percent increase from the same period of 2011 and a positive growth compared to that of the previous month (US$116.05 million).
An Giang is one of provinces which have the largest farming area and output of pangasius in the Mekong River Delta. However, pangasius farming area of the province in 2012 reduced to 960 hectares, equal to 96.1 percent from that of the corresponding period of 2011, leading to a reduction of fish production. In Jan-Feb 2012, pangasius export volume of the province touched over 19,200 MT, worth over US$55.2 million, representing 73 percent in volume and 83 percent in value from those of the same period of 2011.
In Feb and the first two months of 2012, pangasius exports to almost markets remained positive growth. In Jan-Feb 2012, pangasius exports to the U.S. valued at US$46.6 million (up 50.4 percent), exports to Mexico hit US$27.6 million (up 62.5 percent) and exports to Brazil hit US$12.5 million (35.9 percent) compared to the same period of 2011.
Remarkably in Feb 2012, Vietnam pangasius export value to EU reached US$37.3 million, up 32.8 percent on Feb 2011 in which exports to Spain amounted to US$8.6 million, posting the strongest advance of 118.4 percent since 2010. This led to the fact that Vietnam pangasius export value to Spain in the first two months this year reached US$14.65 million, up 7.3 percent. However, some enterprises haven’t seen upward trend as expected in aspect of pangasius exports to EU. In Jan-Feb 2012, fish exports to EU approached US$68.9 million, reporting a 10.9 percent reduction from last year and representing 26.1 percent of Vietnam pangasius export proportion.
Although domestic pangasius production in the first months of the year was bumpy, it is expected that pangasius exports in 2012 will keep firm growth rate, equal to 2011. Pangasius exports to EU show signs of reduction, export activities to other markets such as the U.S., Canada, Middle East, Africa are expanding.