(vasep.com.vn) As three large markets – the EU, Japan and the U.S. – got a sharp drop in imports of bivalve mollusk, Vietnamese exporters accelerated exports of this species to South Korea, Australia and Canada in the first five months of 2013. However, earnings from these countries did not compensate losses from important markets because consumption demand has been weakened globally.
Referring to Vietnam Customs, through May 2013, Vietnamese bivalve mollusk exports decreased about 0.8 percent over the compatible period of 2012. Local exporters said that markets for these products followed a quiet trend and export price was down 20 - 30 percent this year.
The EU’s imports from Vietnam saw a year-on-year drop from 2 to 20.5 percent in three out of the five first months of 2013. Japanese imports reported a drop from 32 – 34 percent in two months and U.S. purchase was down from 4.8 – 30 percent in four months.
Between January and May 2013, Vietnam companies have been more interested in Canada and Taiwan, but these two markets got about 10 percent growth due to low export price and uncertain market trend.
It is noted that exports to Australia reached the highest growth of 18 percent among ten leading importers of Vietnam bivalve mollusk. The rise varied from 146 percent to 10,223 percent in January, March and May 2013. Australia market is expected to be targeted by Vietnam exporters in the coming months.
Though reporting a slight drop in exports in the first five months of 2013, Vietnam bivalve mollusk sector has been facing difficulties. Weak consumption, low price and profit pushed local companies to reduce the proportion of these items in their export structure.