(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2016, Vietnam pangasius exports reached US$156.4 million, up 19%. The figure in Jan-Aug 2016 estimated at US$1.08 billion, up 6% compared to the same period of 2015.
Exported products
Exports of pangasius (HS code 03) hit US$1.07 billion, accounting for 99.2% of the total exports in which exports of live/fresh/frozen/dried pangasius (HS code 03, except for HS code 0304) gained US$86.6 million, and exports of pangasius (HS code 0304) touched US$988.9 million. Besides, shipments of other processed pangasius (HS code 16) achieved US$8.6 million, representing 0.8% of the total.
Exports to U.S.
In August 2016, the U.S. stayed as the biggest importer of Vietnam pangasius, with the value of US$40.8 million, up 74.1%; the figure in Jan-Aug 2016 was US$254.5 million, up 22.4% year on year. The average import price of fresh pangasius fillets into the U.S in early this year tended to rise, ranging from US$6-7 per kilo. This was the highest price in the last 2 years. Vietnam’s exports of fresh pangasius fillets to the U.S. decreased in volume this year, but the price was on the upward trend over last year.
Exports to EU
Vietnam pangasius exports to the EU in August 2016 totaled US$21.2 million, down 5.4%. The figure in the first 8 months of 2016 estimated at US$177.3 million, down 7.9% from the same period in 2015. EU recently ranked the 2nd in top largest importers of Vietnam pangasius, making up 16.4%. In the past months, exports to this market showed signs of drops. However, the exports expected to rise again in the coming time thanks to an increase in purchasing for the year-end holidays. In Aug 2016, the UK was the leading importer of Vietnam pangasius in the EU bloc with the value of US$4.5 million, up 60%; the figure in Jan-Aug 2016 estimated at US$32.5 million, up 1.8% year on year.
The average import price of frozen pangasius fillets into the EU was about EUR2-2.2 per kilo, lower than the same period in 2015 but higher than that in 2014.
Written by Ngoc Thuy
Compiled by Dieu Thuy