(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports to the EU forecasted to drop owing to the impact of the yellow card. However, by the end of March 2018, Vietnam's tuna exports to the EU increased by 25% over the same period in 2017, reaching US$34.5 million.
The three largest importing markets in the bloc included Germany, the Netherlands and Italy. In this period, exports to all three markets increased by 21.8%, 46% and 4% respectively over the same period last year.
Compared to the same period last year, Vietnamese exports of tuna products to the EU increased, except for canned tuna. Notably, exports of Vietnamese other tuna products to this market dramatically rose by 332%, reaching nearly US$6 million. In Jan-Mar 2018, tuna loins/fillets were the main export products to the EU, accounting for 40% of total export value.
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VIETNAM’S TUNA EXPORTS TO THE EU BY PRODUCTS (US$)
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Products
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Jan-Mar 2018
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Jan-Mar 2017
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Variation (%)
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Tuna HS code 16 (1)
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14,887,839
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11,591,404
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28.4
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Canned tuna (HS code 16)
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8,898,007
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10,204,738
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-12.8
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Other processed tuna (HS code 16)
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5,989,832
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1,386,666
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332.0
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Tuna HS code 03 (2)
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19,660,893
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16,005,095
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22.8
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Live/fresh/frozen/dried tuna (HS code 03) (except for HS 0304)
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5,924,380
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5,845,544
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1.3
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Tuna HS code 0304 (except for fish pate and surimi)
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13,736,513
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10,159,551
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35.2
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Total (1+2)
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34,548,732
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27,596,499
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25.2
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(Source: Vietnam Customs)
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Due to low supplies of raw materials in the EU, the region mainly imports from other sources, therefore, Vietnam boosts exports of tuna to the EU in recent years. The use of raw tuna imported from international fishing vessels makes it easier for enterprises to complete the document required by the EU on IUU.
In addition, since the beginning of the year, the EU has still applied the import tax exemption quotas for 25,000 MT of steamed tuna loins/fillets from third countries - no trade agreements with the EU such as Thailand, Vietnam and China. Vietnamese companies are taking advantage of this opportunity to boost exports of steamed tuna loins/fillets to the market.