(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's shrimp exports in the first quarter of 2021 reached US$ 661 million, an increase of over 5%. This slight growth was mainly due to an increase in exports of 16.5% in March. Shrimp exports to the US, EU, Australia, UK, and Russia surged in March (up 49%, 27%, 37%, 31% respectively and 97%), making the picture of shrimp export in the first quarter brighter after the cumulative results in the first 2 months decreased compared to the same period last year.
By the end of the first quarter, the US still accounted for the highest proportion in the total shrimp exports of Vietnam with over 20%, reaching 134.6 million USD, up 16.5% over the same period last year. Japan ranked second with 126 million USD, accounting for 19%, but compared to the same period in 2020, it decreased 4%, due to a sharp decline in the first 2 months of the year, although exports to this market in March were equivalent to the same period last year.
Shrimp exports to the EU increased by 8% to 95 million USD, accounting for 14.5% of which exports to the main markets of the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium all grew 2 digits (up 10%, 16% and 10% respectively). These markets also increased strongly Vietnam shrimp imports in March: up 15%, 33% and 38% respectively. These three markets account for over 70% of Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU.
The two markets Australia and the UK are accounting for a remarkable proportion in the total shrimp exports of Vietnam in the first 3 months of this year with 6.2% and 6.1%, worth $40.9 million and $40.4 million, increase 46% and 11.5% respectively over the same period in 2020.
In addition to the UK, shrimp consumption in Russia also increased sharply, making shrimp imports from Vietnam up 102% in the first quarter, reaching $11.2 million.
In the first quarter of 2021, whiteleg shrimp is still the most popular in the markets. In the context of the Covid epidemic, the consumption trend focuses on retail channels and supermarkets, so small shrimp suitable for home processing has more demand than large, high priced shrimp. Vannamei exports in the first quarter reached $ 507 million, up 15% over the same period last year, accounting for nearly 77% of shrimp export turnover. In which, processed whiteleg shrimp (HS code 16) gained a higher proportion with 263 million USD, up 22%, while frozen shrimp (HS 03 code) reached 243 million USD, up by 8%.
Meanwhile, black tiger shrimp exports continued to decline by 26%, reaching nearly 92 million USD and only accounting for 14% of shrimp exports. Japan, China and the US - the three largest markets, all sharply reduced the import of black tiger shrimp from Vietnam, down 24%, 30% and 41% respectively over the same period last year.
Export of marine shrimp accounted for 9.5% of the total export of shrimp, reaching US$ 62.7 million, down 3% over the same period last year. In which, the export of processed shrimp and frozen shrimp decreased by 8.7% and 10%, respectively. Meanwhile, the export of dried shrimp increased sharply by double compared to the same period last year.