(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports to EU in 2015 achieved US$548.6 million, down 19.7% year on year. The year-on-year decline in shrimp exports to EU in the year was attributable that regional economy faced troubles, consumers tightened spending, EUR devaluated against USD and import shrimp price into the market was requested to cut down by European importers.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports to EU in 2015 reached the positive growth in Jan, the other months of the year saw the year-on- year decrease. Shrimp exports to the market hit the highest value of US$63 million in Oct 2015 due to festivals in the end of the year.
In 2015, among 3 main importing markets of Vietnam's shrimp in the EU bloc, the UK was the only market recording positive growth of 13.4% compared to 2014 due to higher demand for warmwater shrimp caused by lower coldwater shrimp supply with high price. Vietnam shrimp exports to Germany and the Netherlands respectively showed the decrease of 21.5% and 27.3%.
According to the UK’s retailers, warmwater shrimp sales on Christmas 2015 continuously climbed up GBP28.1million, an increase of 4.3% compared to 2014, from 25.5 million in 2013 .
The value and volume of warmwater shrimp in the UK’s retail stores recovered in 2015, going up 7.5% with GBP220.5 million and a rise of 6.9% with 13,394 MT respectively in 52 weeks ended on Jan, 2nd, 2016.
In 2014, Vietnam’s whiteleg shrimp sales to Germany made up 58% while black tiger shrimp sales took 34.7%. In Jan-Sep 2015, the proportion of whiteleg shrimp was 73.5% while that of black tiger shrimp was 19.9%. This trend showed that whiteleg shrimp from Vietnam is increasingly favoured in Germany. Between 2011 and 2014, Germany took the lead in the EU bloc in importing shrimp from Vietnam. In 2014, shrimp exports to the market accounted for 20.5% of the total shrimp exports by Vietnam to EU.
With advantage in producing value added products, Vietnam shrimp exporters have opportunities for raising its market share in the EU market because the market is in high demand for ready-to-eat shrimp, cooked shrimp and finger food.
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The average price of shrimp imported into EU in 2015 (US$/MT)
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Suppliers
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Jan
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Feb
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Mar
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Apr
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May
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Jun
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Jul
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Aug
|
Sep
|
Oct
|
|
Ecuador
|
7,214
|
7,206
|
7,381
|
7,272
|
7,356
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6,681
|
6,274
|
6,518
|
6,473
|
7,920
|
|
Vietnam
|
10,516
|
10,325
|
10,206
|
10,244
|
10,785
|
10,470
|
9,527
|
10,317
|
9,897
|
10,106
|
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India
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8,132
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8,530
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8,017
|
8,451
|
8,727
|
8,263
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7,913
|
8,037
|
8,052
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7,920
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Bangladesh
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12,166
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12,237
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11,407
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12,200
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11,831
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10,732
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9,741
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9,988
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10,344
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11,605
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China
|
5,909
|
6,778
|
6,522
|
5,701
|
5,933
|
5,773
|
5,572
|
5,893
|
5,647
|
5,772
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|
Indonesia
|
11,572
|
11,771
|
10,750
|
10,766
|
11,260
|
11,240
|
10,674
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9,989
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10,710
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10,492
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Thailand
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12,425
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13,179
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13,429
|
12,577
|
13,698
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13,436
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11,905
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12,282
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11,566
|
12,020
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Due to its weakened currency, Europe is not benefiting from the drop in shrimp prices. In early 2016, however, orders from European buyers are expected to increase as they restock their inventories. Demand from the market is focused on middle and smaller sizes due to high prices for larger sizes.
In the EU market, Ecuador is the main competitor of Vietnam. The free trade agreement between Ecuador and EU is expected to come into force by October 2016. Ecuador should be the beneficiary in the EU increasing the allowance of raw, farmed shrimp at 0% duty from 30,000 metric tons to 40,000t. The EU’s Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) has been extended until the trade deal is put into effect or through by Dec. 31 2016. This means Ecuadorian shrimp exporters will continue to enjoy a 3.6% tariff on frozen, uncooked shrimp after the 0% quota on 20,000 metric tons is exceeded, instead of a 12% tariff.
Written by Kim Thu
Compiled by Dieu Thuy