(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first half of this year, Vietnam pangasius exports reached US$790.2 million, up 5.4% year on year. Exports to the US, China-Hong Kong and Brazil reported the year-on-year growth but exports to EU, ASEAN, Mexico, Colombia, Saudi Arabia saw the reduction.
The U.S.
In QII/2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S. hit US$106.5 million, up 31.4% from the previous quarter. Until Jun 2016, sales to the market were US$187.1 million, up 17.7% year on year. The high antidumping duty imposed by the U.S. reduced the number of Vietnam’s pangasius suppliers to the US.
According to NMFS, until May 2016, the U.S. imported 1.1 million MT of seafood products, up 3.2% year on year but the import value downed 0.73% to US$7.7 billion. In the period, the U.S. raised importing the volume of pangasius but reducing the volume of tilapia. The U.S. importers tend to import more tilapia from Brazil and import less tilapia from China. Tilapia imports into the U.S. from China (the largest supplier of frozen tilapia fillet) downed 16.1% in volume and 27.6% in value.
EU
In QII/2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to EU hit 69.4 million, down 6.6% year on year. Through Jun 2016, sales to the market touched US$133 million, down 6.7% year on year. In which, pangasius exports to Spain and Germany saw the respective growth of 17.9% and 4.4% but exports to the Netherlands downed 13%, the UK downed 22.5% year on year.
According to Eurostat, in QI/2016, the import value of some white fish into EU continued to rise: frozen cod fillet up 1.79%; chilled fresh cod up 6%, frozen Alaska Pollock fillet up 4.9% while import value of catfish (HS 030462) and pangasius downed 11% year on year.
China – Hongkong, ASEAN, Brazil
In QII/2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to China reached US$72.5 million, up 80.6% from QI/2016. In Jan-Jun 2016, sales to the market reached US$117 million, up 66.7% year on year. Sales to some major markets (the US, EU, ASEAN, Mexico) slowed down, so Vietnam exporters shifted to export to China. In 6 consecutive months of the first half, sales to China reported a two-digit growth.
In QII/2016, the export value to ASEAN totaled US$34.5 million, down 3.3% from the previous quarter. By Jun 2016, the exports to ASEAN totaled US$67.9 million, down 1.9% from the same period last year. In which, exports to 3 biggest single markets of the bloc: Thailand rose 1.8%; Singapore fell 1.4% and the Philippines fell 2% compared to the same period last year. So far, the majority of pangasius products exported to Thailand and Singapore was frozen fillets or steaks. Thailand is still a major importer of Vietnam pangasius with stable export value.
In QII/2016, the pangasius exports to Brazil reached US$16.1 million, down 29.8% from the previous quarter. For the year to Jun 2016, exports to this market reached US$36.9 million, up 41.1% compared to the same period of 2015. Compared to the same period last year, the value of pangasius exports to the markets continued to increase.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Kim Thu