(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2018, the export turnover of pangasius reached US$438.2 million, an increase of 18% year on year.
Sales to some markets posted the good growth such as China - Hong Kong (45%), the U.S (22.7%), and ASEAN (56.5%).
China - Hong Kong
By the end of March 2018, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China - Hong Kong valued at US$101.1 million, accounting for 23% and up 45% over the same period of 2017. Up to now, Hong Kong was also the largest importing market of Vietnam.
Exports of pangasius to this market in 2018 projected to go on the rise thanks to its high demand.
U.S - EU
As of March 2018, the export value of pangasius to the U.S reached nearly US$75 million, accounting for 17%, up 22.7%; Exports to the EU continued to decline by 17.7% to eye US$41 million.
ASEAN
Vietnam’s pangasius exports to ASEAN also increased remarkably in the first quarter of the year, reaching US$46.7 million, up 56.5% over the same period last year.
Vietnam’s three biggest pangasius importers in the bloc were Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines, accounting for 97.9%, 26.8% and 32.7%, respectively. It is forecasted that in 2018, ASEAN will continue to be the third largest buyer of Vietnamese pangasius (behind China and the U.S).
If in the coming time, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the U.S face more difficulties due to the catfish inspection program and high anti-dumping tax, ASEAN forecasted to replace the U.S in the top two leading importers of Vietnamese pangasius.