(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As of July 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports totaled US$927.8 million, up 4.1% compared to the same period in 2015. Of that, exports to the U.S. and China recorded the positive growth.
The U.S.
In the first 7 months of 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.S. hit US$213.7 million, accounting for 23% of total pangasius exports, up 15.8% from the same period last year. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, in the first half of 2016, the import volume into the market jumped up 13% but the value dropped compared to the same period last year. Therefore, the average import price of pangasius into the U.S. fell to US$2.5-2.7 per kilo compared to US$2.8-3.2/kg at the same period last year.
Currently, the import price of frozen pangasius fillets remained relatively low compared with some other whitefish products such as frozen tilapia fillets with US$4.3-4.6/kg; frozen haddock with US$6.3-6.6/kg, fresh/chilled tilapia with US$7.1-7.8/kg. Currently, though the U.S. declined imports of Chinese tilapia and shifted to imports from Brazil, tilapia picked up the largest proportion out of total whitefish imports into the U.S. Concerns about food safety of Chinese tilapia can be an opportunity for other whitefish products in the U.S. market, including Vietnam pangasius.
In spite of the increase in export value, the number of enterprises engaged in exporting pangasius to the U.S. decreased due to high anti-dumping tax.
China – Hong Kong
Through July 2016, out of top 10 largest importers of Vietnam pangasius, exports to China reported the highest growth over the same period last year. In Jan-Jul 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports to this market totaled US$140.9 million, taking up 15.2% of total pangasius exports and rising by 65.3%. With this value, China - Hong Kong are increasingly picking up a large proportion in the structure of Vietnam's pangasius exports.
Currently, China mainly imported Vietnam pangasius for its domestic consumption, processing and re-exporting to the U.S. Thus, in the last two years, Vietnam pangasius exports to China showed the two digit growth. So far, China remained high demand for this products thanks to large population and the import standards into this market are not too strict. Despite some risk in exports to the market, China still is a potential market for Vietnam pangasius companies.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy