In the first two months of 2008, Vietnam exported more than 70,000 tons of pangasius, worthed of $159.4 million, up 42.5% in volume and 28.1% in value on year.
We sold a total of 26,800 tons of tra fillet, worthed $66.56 million to European countries, up 22% in volume and 11.1% in value.
Russia was the largest consumer of Vietnamese pangasius, they imported 14,600 tons pangasius fillet of $25.2 million, up 70.5% in volume and 48.4% in value.
Pangasius export to Mexico increased 213.7% in volume and up 181.7% in value.
The Neitherlands, Australia and Ukraine kept on buying a lot of pangasius from Vietnam, however, the data of volume and value of their import was not available.
In general, the fluctuant supply of tilapia and whitemeat fish worldwide, lower fishing quota for several marine species is applied in European Union, the depreciation of US dollar resulted in growing import of pangasius. The demand for tra is predicted to rise in festive holidays during this summer, it is a favorable condition for Vietnamese seafood processors and exporters to sell more in global market.
However, the local selling price of raw pangasius is predicted to be higher, at $1 for each kilogram, in the next two month due to limited supply. Selling price of pangasius fillet, as a consequence, will be higher.