(vasep.com.vn) As of September 2012, Vietnam tuna exports touched US$436.2 million, up 53.2 percent from that of the same period of 2011.
The increase was witnessed in shipment of 4 main tuna products: fresh, live/frozen/dried tuna (HS0302 code); tuna fillet/steaks (HS0304 code); canned tuna and other processed tuna (HS16 code).
In 2011, fresh, live/frozen/dried tuna exports predominated over exports of other tuna products. This year, exports of tuna fillet/steaks outreached fresh, live/frozen/dried tuna to gain the leading position. Through the third quarter of 2012, the growth in export value of tuna fillet/steaks was 139.82 percent, followed by canned tuna exports growth of 47.7 percent, other processed tuna exports with 42 percent growth and fresh, live/frozen tuna with 13.54 percent advance compared to the same period of 2011.
Tuna exports to 10 destinations marked a positive growth, except for Iran. Vietnam tuna exporters seemed to hesitate to export their tuna products to the market due to Iran’s political and economic instability.
In 2011, Spain ranked the fourth position among importers of fresh, live/frozen/dried tuna from Vietnam. Between Jan and Sep 2012, Spain surpassed Belgium to rank the third position.
Tuna exports to Belgium since the early this year reduced 19.94 percent. While tuna exports to Portugal raised remarkably with the export value of US$1.006 million, up 357 percent from that of the compatible time of 2011 (US$219,670).
In the first nine months of 2012, canned and processed tuna exports were boosted to the U.S and Taiwan. In 2011, the U.S. is not Vietnam’s potential market of processed tuna. However, in the first 9 months of 2012, main suppliers of processed tuna for the U.S. contracted their export volume, Vietnam tuna exporters took the advantage to export this type of tuna products to the U.S.
According to experts, this year, favorable natural conditions created more raw tuna for Vietnam. Favorable conditions in importing markets also help Vietnam tuna exports keep its growth from now to the end of this year.
However, to meet enough raw tuna supply for processing, tuna processors must import a large amount of raw tuna. In the long term, tuna processors still continue to purchase raw fish to remain and expand their business. Tuna import value into Vietnam this year is expected to continue to rise.
However, domestic tuna processors have recently concerned about the draft on revised tax management law compiled by Ministry of Finance and submitted to National Assembly. The draft requires importers to provide a credit guarantee by credit institutions to enjoy imported tax payment grace in 275 days. If the changes to the grace period are approved, importers will encounter difficulties in finance and raw tuna imports. Vietnam tuna sector can hardly solve shortage of raw tuna in the future.