Jan-Apr 2017: Up 14% in Vietnam tuna exports to US
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2017, the U.S imported tuna from 58 countries around the world. Of that, Thailand, Vietnam, Ecuador and China were are top 4 largest tuna suppliers to the market. Imports from Thailand took up 35%, followed by Vietnam with 11%, Ecuador with 9% and China with 9% in total tuna imports into the U.S. Currently, tuna imports from Vietnam, Ecuador and China into the U.S went up, while those from Thailand declined.
According to Vietnam Customs, in Jan-Apr 2017, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the U.S hit more than US$ 64 million, an increase of 14% over the same period in 2016. Vietnam's exports of all tuna items to the market were on the upward trend. Of that, shipments of tuna loins/fillets (HS code 0304) accounted for the highest proportion of 62%, followed by canned tuna with 31%.
In the period, the average import price of canned tuna increased from US$4.2 to US$5.03/kg. In the U.S market, Vietnam’s canned tuna mainly competed with the same item from Thailand, Ecuador and China.
Tuna loins/fillets (HS code 0304) from Vietnam mainly competed with the same items from Indonesia and the Philippines. The average import price of frozen tuna loins/fillets into the U.S quoted at US$12/kg.
Compiled by Dieu Thuy