(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Before 2015, Russia was a small market for importing tuna from Vietnam. But since 2015, when Vietnam officially signed the Free Trade Agreement with Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU - including Russia, Republic of Belarus, Kazakhstan, Republic of Armenia and Republic Kyrgyzstan) (VCUFTA) and came into effect on October 5, 2016, Vietnam's tuna export has prospered. However, recently, Vietnam's tuna export to this market has decreased.
According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam tuna export to Russia, from 2013 to 2015, Vietnam's tuna export to Russia grew continuously, but at a low level. But since FTA Vietnam - EAEU comes into effect, Vietnam's tuna export has grown strongly in the period of 2015 - 2017. Export value increased from 3.2 million USD to over 10.2 million USD. However, in 2018, Vietnam's tuna export to Russia tends to decrease.
Currently Russia imports mainly fresh, frozen and dried tuna of Vietnam, especially frozen tuna fillets (tuna cut pieces of saku, frozen yellowfin tuna, steak). This is a product that, according to the commitment in VCUFTA, countries in the EAEU will erase the immediate and rapid tariff reductions for Vietnam from 10% to 0% as soon as the agreement comes into effect. With this advantage, Vietnamese enterprises are "mastering" the playground in the market segment of frozen tuna fillets.
As for canned processed tuna products, Vietnam's products so far have not really penetrated into this market, while being high demand products in Russia. Because tuna is being located in the high-end and middle-class segments, it is in fact a premium product. The reason is that 100% of tuna products are imported from abroad. In addition, price is directly proportional to product quality. Therefore, it is difficult to find fresh tuna at Russian goods or very high price of fresh tuna. Russians also like to buy canned tuna and use it to prepare dishes than fresh tuna. Besides, tuna is one of the few species that does not lose its useful properties when canned, and is a very low-fat product so it is considered a diet product favored by Russians.
With canned tuna products, Vietnam's canned tuna products HS160414 Export code to EAEU will be reduced from 15% to 13.6% as soon as the agreement comes into effect, and then reduced. gradually 1.4% over the following years and about 0% by 2025. With this roadmap, Vietnam's closed canned tuna products are more advantageous than other countries.
If enterprises want to promote export of tuna to the Russian market, they must ensure the quality of goods, always improve packaging, design, change the language to make customers in the market. This field can capture complete information about the product.