(vasep.com.vn) Australia is a potential consuming market of Vietnam seafood. Fish imports make up 50 percent of its seafood consumption each year, particularly from the main suppliers like New Zealand, South Africa, China and ASEAN countries.
In 2010 – 2011, Australian seafoods import value increased 1 percent (US$16.3 million) to a total of US$1.5 billion. In which import of seafood for human consumption reached US$1.3 billion, representing 83 percent, up 2 percent as the result of stronger value of Australian currency.
According statistics from Vietnam Customs, in the first half of 2012, Vietnam earned US$82 million of export to Australia. Shipment of pangasius products gained US$21.3 million and accounted for 25 percent.
Australia consumes mainly frozen and fresh fish fillets, especially white fish species. Therefore, pangasius from Vietnam becomes more and more popular with Australian consumers because of its good flavour and high nutrition source.
Though export of Vietnam seafood to the market kept great growth in value of nearly 35 percent in the first six months of 2012, pangasius sales reported slightly drop of 6 percent compared to the same period last year, with the deepest fall reported in March 2012. In February and April 2012, fish sales to Australia showed recovery but reached only US$4 million, lower than the record of US$4.7 million in May 2011.
Recently, seafood price is predicted to rise along with higher carbon tax regulated by the government. Consumers in Australia have to pay more for seafood as the new carbon tax will lead to soaring price of fuel used in fish freezing and reservation activities and transportation cost in the chain of food production and services, from fish gearing in marine areas to retail destinations.
ASEAN - Australia - New Zealand Free Trade Agreement was signed on February 2009 and took effect from 1st January 2010. Accordingly, Australia committed to reduce import tax on imported fish from Vietnam to zero level. This good news will help Vietnam pangasius exporters to this market to strengthen their competitiveness against other fish suppliers.