(vasep.com.vn) In QI/2013, Vietnam exported seafood to 135 destinations in the world. In which top 10 main markets of Vietnam seafood were the U.S., EU, Japan, South Korea, Australia, China, ASEAN, Brazil, Mexico and Russia, making up the 67 percent of the country’s total seafood exports.
In QI/2013, tremendous declines were observed in seafood exports to almost all the markets in which exports to Russia reported the deepest dive of over 48 percent, shipment to South Korea down 24 percent, Japan down 7.6 percent, EU down 9 percent and the U.S. down 6.3 percent.
In the first 3 months of 2013, two markets (Brazil and Australia) remained with a positive growth of 50 percent and 4 percent, respectively. At the same time, seafood shipment to China and ASEAN showed a positive advance of 19 percent and 16 percent, respectively.
The U.S.: Continuing to be the largest importer of Vietnam seafood, the U.S. imported US$237.8 million of Vietnam seafood in QI/2013, making up more than 19 percent of total seafood exports. It was the largest buyer of Vietnam shrimp and tuna and the second largest buyer of pangasius. However, since the beginning of 2013, Vietnam exporters confronted with duty barriers imposed by the U.S.: Shrimp products are likely to be levied countervailing duty (CVD) by the U.S. In DOC’s determination in the 8th administrative review of the antidumping case on fish fillets, the duty levied was much higher than that of POR 7.
EU: Seafood exports to EU generated US$237 million, taking the proportion of 19 percent. EU was the largest buyer of Vietnam pangasius, the second biggest buyer of tuna and the third biggest buyer of shrimp. Exports of main seafood items to EU in the first months of the year continued to slide due to low seafood demand caused by regional economic distress.
Japan: Among the top largest importers of Vietnam seafood, Japan ranked the third with an import value of US$211 million, making up nearly 17 percent of Vietnam’s total seafood exports. This is the second largest importer of Vietnam cephalopod as well as the third biggest importer of Vietnam tuna. Since Jul 2012, shrimp exports to Japan has been reducing due to ethoxyquin barriers.
South Korea: It ranked in the fifth position among top largest importers of Vietnam seafood. South Korea was the biggest consumer of Vietnam cephalopod and the fifth largest consumer of Vietnam shrimp. Exports to the market was fairly stable in the past years. However, since the late 2012, exports to the market tended to slow down and in QI/2013, seafood export to the market reached US$83 million, down 24 percent and making up 6.6 percent of the total. Since Dec 2012, South Korea decided to test ethoxyquin in imported shrimp originated from Vietnam with maximum residue limit of 0.01 ppm. This badly affected to Vietnam shrimp exports while exporters are facing ethoxyquin barriers from Japan and countervailing duty (CVD) from the U.S.
China: For the year 2012 to QI/2013, China surpassed South Korea holding now the fourth position. With the revenue of US$98 million, exports to China made up nearly 8 percent of total seafood exports of Vietnam. The market imported mainly shrimp and pangasius from Vietnam.