(vasep.com.vn) In the first 6 months of 2012, Vietnam cephalopod exports to Japan grew impressively. In January 2012, exports to the market reduced slightly by 0.2 percent and 6 following months exports grew by 50 – 155 percent, exports in February grew sharply by 157.8 percent over 2011.
Since the early year, cephalopod exports to Japan were smooth thank to high demand and rising import price compared to that of other main importers. However, cephalopod exporters faced shortage of raw mat
erial for processing two main export items: frozen, dry, salted or in brine, smoked octopus (HS 030759 code) and frozen, dry, salted or in brine, smoked squid (HS 030749 code). The domestic supply of raw material only meets 20-30 percent of capacity of local processing facilities.
Processors must boost to import raw materials from Myanmar, Thailand, Indonesia to outsource, process and export. Through June 2011, Vietnam cephalopod exports to Japan reached US$46.4 million, d
own nearly 11 percent in volume and 1 percent in value over 2010 and Japan was the third largest importing market of Vietnam cephalopod (after South Korea and EU). In 2011, with the cephalopod import value of US$130 million, Japan outreached to the second rank after South Korea.
Vietnam cephalopod exporters make efforts to ensure the quality of products exported to Japan. In May 2012, with 60 percent year-on-year growth in the cephalopod import value, Japan outstripped to take the lead among largest importers of Vietnam cephalopod. In the next quarter, cephalopod exports are forecasted to grow drastically thank to more attractive and stable export price over that of other markets.