(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2018, the total value of Pangasius exports to EU reached US$243.9 million, up 20.2% compared to 2017. This positive growth rate generated goodwill for Pangasius exporting enterprises in 2019.
From January to February 2018, the value of Pangasius exports to EU decreased by 13.2% and 15.3% compared to the same period in 2017. For the remaining 10 months, Pangasius exports to EU increased. In particular, export value to the four largest export markets (Netherlands, England, Germany and Belgium) were relatively stable.
According to ITC statistics, in the first 11 months of 2018, EU's import value of white fish increased by 8.6%, of which imports from England, France and Portugal increase significantly. The price of importing pangasius to EU market in the first 9 months of 2018 also bounced to more than US$3 /kg. This was the highest price since 2016.
The latest ITC statistics also showed that in the structure of EU white fish imports in the first 10 months of 2018, frozen Cod fillet fish (HS 030471) was still the product with the highest proportion of nearly 26% of total white fish imports followed by frozen Alaska pollack fillet fish (HS 030475); Frozen Cod fish (HS 030363); Frozen Hake fillet fish (HS 030474) ... During this time, imported frozen Hake fish (HS 030366) increased the most at 27.8% compared to the same period in 2017.
Import of frozen Pangasius, basa fillet fish (HS 030462) to the EU in the first 10 months of 2018 also progressed by 6% over the same period in the previous year. Currently, Pangasius products are also competing against tilapia and Alaska pollock in some key markets in Europe. The replacement of Pangasius products in some market segments is taking place across Europe with varying degrees.
In 2018, the value of Pangasius export to the EU market became positive again because the price of domestic pangasius materials increased, causing exports price to increase. Export value to some big markets in this region such as Netherlands increased by 33.4%, England increased by 6%, Germany increased by 10.5%, Belgium increased by 11.8% over the previous year. Particularly in December 2018, exporting Pangasius to 4 markets skyrocketed, export value to the Netherlands increased by 71.3%; England increased by 75.4%; Germany increased by 45.2% and Belgium increased by 144.8%. In the last two quarters, exports Pangasius to Holland, Germany and especially Belgium grew well.
The recovery and growth of Pangasius exports to EU market after many consecutive years of declining export value has generated goodwill for enterprises to export to this market. It is forecasted that in 2019, Pangasius export to EU will continue to increase by 20-35% compared to 2018.