(vasep.com.vn) In the last 3 years, Germany always claimed the first position in importing Vietnam tuna among EU block while it was the second largest single importing market of Vietnam tuna behind the U.S.
In 2013, tuna sales to Germany made up 8 percent of Vietnam’s total tuna export value. From 2009 up to now, Vietnam tuna shipment to the market increased by 213 percent from US$13.7 million to US$43 million.
Vietnam’s canned tuna exports to the U.S. (the largest importer of Vietnam tuna) are on the down ward trend while exports of the item to Germany (the second largest importer) are on the increase. In 2013, tuna exports to Germany accounted for over 19 percent of the country’s’ total canned tuna exports.
Besides, shipment of canned and processed tuna by Vietnam to Germany in the last 5 years reported a continuously positive growth and made up over 80 percent of the total tuna exports to the market. Exports of the item rose from US$11 million in 2009 to US$38.6 million in 2013.
However, in the same period, exports of frozen/live/fresh tuna by Vietnam to Germany witnessed an unstable growth.
Germany sourced tuna from 42 suppliers throughout the world, in which Philippines and Ecuador were two leading suppliers in the last 5 years.
Due to unstable supply of raw tuna and changes in EU's Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), tuna exports from Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia to the market saw ebbs and flows.
While tuna exports from Vietnam to Germany reported a continuous growth in the last 5 years. After the decline in 2010, Vietnam tuna exports to Germany recovered and surpassed Thailand and Indonesia to hold the fifth largest supplier.
Thanks to advantages in large fishing fleet and abundant tuna resources, Ecuador’s tuna exports to Germany showed positive growth. The country’s tuna exports to Germany are expected to continue climbing up.
Leading tuna suppliers (Philippines, Vietnam, Indonesia, Spain and Thailand) to Germany are strongly competing with Ecuador because the country is enjoying tariff preferences on canned tuna exports to EU thanks to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed by two sides. Meanwhile, the above suppliers must pay the duty rate of 20.5-24 percent to export their tuna products to EU.