(vasep.com.vn) In the past five months, cephalopod exports to the U.S. marked consecutive double-digit growth over that of the same period of 2011. For the year to July, the U.S. outstripped Taiwan to become the 6thlargest importer of Vietnam cephalopod.
According to statistics of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), cephalopod imports into the country reported a successive growth in five-year period (2007 – 2011) and in 2011, the country boosted importing cephalopod from many origins including Vietnam. Top 3 leading cephalopod suppliers for the U.S. are China, Canada and Japan while Vietnam ranked the 16th position.
Compared to the corresponding period of 2011, cephalopod exports to the U.S. in the period between Jan - Jul 2012 were up 33 percent in which exports in the period between Mar and Jul 2012 surged continuously by 14 – 79 percent.
Cuttlefish (frozen, dried, salted or in brine, smoked), squid (frozen, dried, salted or in brine, smoked) anh octopus are the most consumed-popular items, accounting for 45 percent of total mollusk imports into the U.S. The country also bought cockle, scallops.
In the first seven months of 2012, although Vietnam cephalopod exports to the U.S. increased sharply over that of the same period of 2011, domestic exporters have suffered from barriers such as hiking input costs, lack of raw material for processing, and rocketing price of raw material. Thus, Vietnam cephalopod export volume occupied a modest proportion compared to that of other major suppliers such as China, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Peru, or Thailand.
According to Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), in the period between Jan and May 2012, the U.S. imported over 30.3 thousand MT of squid in all varieties, worth by nearly US$123.9 million, mainly from China. The average import price reached US$4.09 per kilogram, CIF. In the first quarter 2012, fresh squid imported into the U.S. was mainly served for domestic consumption. The U.S. imported Loligospp. squid with the highest price of US$6.3 – US$6.5 per kilogram. The import price of other frozen Loligo squid into the U.S. was quoted at US$4.66 – US$4.88 per kilogram.
Now, India, Chile are large suppliers of fresh squid for the U.S. China has advantages on exporting frozen Loligo opalescens squid to the U.S. and South Korea is dominating in exporting fresh octopus. In two recent years, mollusk exports of the Philippines to the U.S. have been increased sharply. According to USDA, in 2011, cephalopod exports of Philippines to the U.S. was up 121 percent in volume and 53 percent in value over those of the same period of 2011.
In the period between Jan and Jul 2012, despite modest proportion in cephalopod exports to the U.S., Vietnam cephalopod exporters are making effort to delivery more and more cephalopod products to the U.S. as well as other global markets.