(vasep.com.vn) During these years, Vietnam tilapia exports have been growing. The beginning of 2004 reported tilapia exports at US$ 1.946 million. After 10 years,tilapia exports reached US$ 27 million, up 180% from 2013.
Tilapia rearing has boomed in the past decade. Global fish production doubled from 830,000 MT in 1990 to 1.6 million MT in 1999. In 2008, production reached 3.5 million MT, then rose to 4.5 million MT in 2013. Since 2008, China has been the major producer with annual output hovering at 1.1- 1.5 million MT.
Tilapia has been one of the top consumed seafoods in the US. In 2012, the American spent US$ 986.1 million on importing tilapia. Tilapia was the 4th most comsumed seafood in 2013. US tilapia imports have been growing in recent years. In 2013, the US imported tilapia reached 232,773 MT, five-fold as in 2000. Frozen fillets accounted for 70% of the total tilapia imports into the United States.
During these years, Vietnam tilapia exports have been growing. The beginning of 2004 reported tilapia exports at US$ 1.946 million. After 10 years, through October 2014, tilapia exports reached US$ 27 million, up 180% from 2013. Top 10 countries importing tilapia from Vietnam included the US, Spain, Colombia, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, the UK, Czech Republic and Italy, accounted for 79.34% of total Vietnam tilapia exports. The US was the top import market, accounting for 21.23% of total tilapia exports from Vietnam with the value reached US$ 5.807 million. Spain was the second biggest importer with the value of US$ 3.7 million, followed by Colombia with US$ 3.029 million.