(vasep.com.vn) Referring to statistics by Vietnam Customs, pangasius export to Germany reached US$5.9 million in January 2013, up 35.7 percent from January 2012. In Germany, it is estimated that 70 – 75 percent of imported pangasius is sold in the retail segment and 25 – 30 percent is sold through the food service.
Over the years, Vietnamese export of pangasius to Germany experienced constant growth, but it started to decrease since the middle of 2010 when local consumers have a negative perception on the production of pangasius by untrue information through local media. Some retail chains stopped importing and trading pangasius products.
So far, Vietnam did not have good plans in improving the image of pangasius products in German market. Some German importers said that the good perception of consumers towards pangasius is very important to regain shares in German market.
Now, ASC label is a good proof for the quality of Vietnam pangasius productions to not only German consumers but also for all customers in other markets.
In February 2013, ASC Germany held an event to launch ASC-labeled pangasius products in Hamburg. Pham Anh Tuan – Deputy Head of Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries, Truong Dinh Hoe - General Secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) attended the event.
Sustainable fish products are more and more popular in German retail. CBI said that, in the long term, only pangasius with ASC trademark will be sold in the retailer segment in Germany and the EU market.
Through February 2013, Vietnam has numbered 14 companies granted ASC certification for their responsibly farmed pangasius, of which 8 companies were certified in late 2012. ASC fish accounted for 10 percent of national production. The production of ASC certified pangasius is expected to reach 50 percent of Vietnam total supply by 2015.
Sustainable products are also highly evaluated in the food service. Some major players in the food service already sell certified-fish products with a proportion up to over 80 percent of total sales. All of them are interested in ASC-certified pangasius and want to put the fish in their sourcing system.