(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 9 months of 2017, Vietnam’s tuna exports totaled US$429.7 million, up 21.2%. Exports to most of major importing markets recorded the good growth such as the U.S, EU and Israel.
U.S
In the first 9 months of 2017, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the U.S reached US$168.7 million, accounting for 39.3%, up 16.8% over the same period last year. The U.S continued to be the leading buyer of Vietnam tuna.
Currently, processed skipjack and canned tuna products (HS code 160414) still account for the largest share of tuna imports into the U.S. According to Globefish's latest statistics, the average import price of canned/processed tuna into the U.S ranged from US$4.5 to US$5 per kilogram, higher than that in the last 2 years. In particular, prices from Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines were equal and close to the average import in the US; prices from Fiji and Ecuador were the highest at US$5.5-5.8 per kilogram.
In the first 7 months of 2017, the import volume of canned/processed tuna in the US ranged from 12,000 to 18,000 MT.
Next was skipjack or striped tuna (HS code 030487); Yellowfin tuna (HS code 030232) and fresh/chilled bigeye tuna (HS code 030234).
EU
In the first 9 months of 2017, shipments of frozen tuna loins/fillets continued to take main share of over 40% in Vietnam’s tuna exports to EU; followed by canned tuna with 32%. Germany, Italy and the Netherlands were the three largest tuna importers in the EU during this period. Compared to the same period last year, exports to most of countries in the EU increased. Of that, sales to Germany increased by 38.3% and those to the Netherlands went up 67.2% over the same period last year.
According to ITC latest statistics, in the first half of 2017, the EU mainly imported processed skipjack and canned tuna (HS code 160414); followed by frozen yellowfin tuna (HS code 030342) and frozen tuna (HS code 030487). Spain, Ecuador; Seychelles; Mauritius and the Philippines stayed as the largest suppliers of tuna to the EU.
Israel
With an impressive export year-on-year growth of 109.3% and the value of US$34.9 million in the first 9 months of this year, Israel overtook ASEAN to become the third largest buyer of Vietnam tuna. This was the potential market of Vietnam in the Middle East at this time.
So far, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines held as the three largest suppliers of tuna to Israel. In particular, Israel increased imports of canned tuna from Vietnam, while last year it increased those of fresh/frozen/dried tuna. Vietnam was the second largest canned tuna supplier to Israel behind Thailand. Meanwhile, for frozen tuna segment, Vietnam dominated the market and had almost no competitors.
Other markets
In the first 9 months of this year, Vietnam’s tuna exports to ASEAN and China declined. Of that, exports to ASEAN decreased by 9.3% and those to China dropped by 7.4% over the same period last year.
Meanwhile, exports to Japan, Mexico and Canada continued to grow remarkably. In which, sales to these three markets increased by 23%; 69.6% and 32% respectively over the same period last year.
On 23th Oct 2017, the European Union (EU) has "issued a yellow card" for Vietnamese seafood. However, with the efforts and determination of the Government and marine product enterprises in Vietnam to ensure compliance with IUU regulations, exports to EU expected to rebound.