(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tuna exports to Russia in the first seven months of this year rose by 57% to see nearly US$8 million. The figure experienced the continuous growth from the beginning of 2018. And currently Russia was put in the top 10 largest importing markets of Vietnamese tuna.
In Russia, tuna is not a traditional product. However, in recent years tuna has become increasingly popular in this market. Imports of tuna products into Russia are on the upward trend.
In this market, tuna is being positioned in the high-end and middle-class segments, but in fact it is a premium product. The reason is that 100% of tuna products are imported from other countries.
According to statistics from the International Trade Center (ITC), tuna imports into Russia in the first half of 2018 reached 3.4 thousand MT, worth by nearly US$17 million, up 20% in volume and 50% in value over the same period in 2017.
Imports of canned tuna into Russia currently picked up 59% of the country's total tuna imports, followed by frozen tuna loins/fillets with 39%. Compared to the same period in 2017, imports of both items into the Russian market went up.
As of June 2018, Russia imported tuna from 16 countries around the world. Among them, ASEAN stayed as the largest supplier of tuna to the Russian market, accounting for 77% of the total volume of tuna imports. In the period, ASEAN exported 2.6 thousand MT of tuna products to this market, worth by US$11 million, up 50% in volume and 42% in value.
Thailand, Vietnam and China held as the three largest tuna suppliers to the Russian market, accounting for 37%, 28% and 26% respectively.
In the processed/canned tuna segment, Thailand and China were the two largest suppliers to the market, followed by China.
Meanwhile, Vietnam, China and Indonesia were the three largest suppliers of frozen tuna loins/fillets to the Russian market. If in previous years, Indonesia was the leading exporter of this item to the market, this year Vietnam overtook this country to become the biggest exporter of this item to Russia. Vietnam's frozen tuna loins/fillets are currently competing with the same items from China and Indonesia.
Currently processed and canned tuna products imported into Russia are subject to the tax of 12.5% (according to MFN) and 9.375% (according to GSP). As for frozen tuna loins/fillets, the tariff rate is 5% (MFN) and 3.75% (GSP).