(vasep.com.vn) There are about 20 Vietnam surimi exporters to South Korea. Until the middle of December 2012, exports of fish paste and surimi to South Korea generated US$106.4 million, representing an increase of 47.3 percent over the same period of 2011 and accounting for over 40 percent of Vietnam’s total seafood exports to the market.
About 2 – 3 million MT of finfish which accounted for 2 – 3 percent of global fish output are annually used to process surimi. The U.S. and Japan are the largest surimi producers while Thailand and China are large importer and exporter of surimi, respectively. Vietnam, Chile, France and Malaysia are emerging as surimi producers.
Demand for surimi in Japan, EU and ASEAN experienced the continuous advance in recent years. Vietnam’s average export price of frozen surimi is rising.
Among ASEAN countries, three key importers of these items from Vietnam are Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia. Through December 15th 2012, Vietnam’s surimi exports to these three countries achieved US$36.6 million, occupying almost 14 percent of its total surimi exports. In which, Thailand purchased the highest amount of US$23.9 million, representing over 9 percent of total export value.
France and Lithuania are two largest importers of Vietnam fish paste and surimi out of 12 importers in EU block. Exports of these items to France accounted for nearly 60 percent of total exports of surimi to EU.
Increasingly high consumption demand for these items in the world gives favorable conditions for Vietnam to increase export turnover of fish paste and surimi. Amid difficult scenario, Vietnam exporters need to diversify their exported products to meet each market’s demand; boost trade promotion to expand markets and earn large profit.