(vasep.com.vn) Pangasius exports to EU in 2012 hit US$425.8 million, down 19.1 percent over 2011. Economical crisis in the region affected to Vietnam’s pangasius exports. Exports to 4 main markets in the block such as Germany, Spain, the Netherland and the U.K deeply decreased.
Exports in QIV/2012 reached US$104.6 million, down 12.4 percent over the same period of 2011. Amid regional economic downturn badly affecting demand for pangasius consumption, pangasius exports to EU only reported the growth in Feb 2012. However, it is still the leading importer of Vietnam pangasius.
Pangasius consumption in EU market was still sluggish. Credit tighte
ning policy in the region more or less affected to fish imports into the market. Besides, capital difficulties made Vietnamese enterprises hesitant to export to the market due to delayed payment method of importers.
Cod was still a popular and favorite item in EU market. However, due to economic turmoil, the regional consumers partly shifted to buy pangasius with cheaper price. Among 4 whitemeat finfish species (cod, hake, Alaska pollock and pangasius) imported into EU, EU imported Alaska pollock the most in both value and volume in 2012; pangasius took the second position in volume but the last position in value; cod ranked the third in import volume and value into EU.
Four main markets in EU:
Germany: Pangasius imports into the market in 2012 reached US$57.4 million, down 35 percent over 2011. Frozen seafood was the most favorite item of Germany, making up 34 percent; followed by canned and seasoned seafood with 26 percent; next fresh fish with 8 percent. Thus, it was easy for pangasius to dominate the German market during the past years. However, in 2012, pangasius exports to the market reduced sharply because consumers preferred Alaska pollock due to its cheaper price. Alaska pollock accounted for the proportion of 25 percent in German market.
Spain:Pangasius imports into the market in 2012 touched US$86.71 million, down 20.3 percent over 2011. The wholesale price of frozen pangasius fillet in Spanish market in 2012 tended to sink.
The Netherlands: In 2012, the Netherlands imported US$68.437 million of Vietnam pangasius, down 22.3 percent from that of 2011. This is a traditional consumer which represented an important proportion in Europe seafood market. Supply from developing countries made up 80 percent of Dutch purchase. However, some imported white meat fish, including pangasius, saw decline trend in 2012. The Netherlands bought fish to serve domestic consumption and process to re-export inside and outside Europe. Therefore, it reduced import of raw fish from outside when some EU countries grappled with economic downturn.
The U.K: In 2012, the U.K. bought US$36.165 million of pangasius products from Vietnam mainly to satisfy domestic consumption, down 2.2 percent over that of 2011. Lower price was one of the reason that made pangasius to become British buyers’ choice to replace some low-supply white meat fish like tilapia. Pangasius was also used to replace cod and pollock in the traditional British “fish and chips” recipes. As the result, Vietnam pangasius exports to the U.K reported the smallest decline among EU main pangasius importers.
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