(vasep.com.vn) From the middle of 2009 up to now, the U.S. has surpassed EU to become the largest export market for Vietnam tuna. According to General Department of Viet Nam Customs, export value of Vietnam tuna to the U.S. last year reached US$171.37 million, representing a 31.8 percent increase against 2010. The U.S. was the only market remaining two digit growth in importing Vietnam tuna in 2011.
According to statistics, in the period from 2006 to the end of October 2011, tuna export price of Vietnam was on uptrend. In the first 10 months of 2011, Vietnam tuna price to the U.S. rose by 40 – 60 percent compared to the same period of 2010.
Since 2011, Vietnam has switched to export frozen, chilled, fillet tuna products (HS 03 code) (mainly skipjack and yellowfin tuna) instead of shipping canned tuna products (HS16 code). The export value of tuna products (HS 03 code) made up over 70 percent of tuna export value of Vietnam to the U.S. during 2011. Thank to the higher price, Vietnam tuna export value to the U.S increased, however export volume to the market in 2011 fell slightly against 2010.
Meanwhile Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia and Ecuador also switched to export high-value tuna products to the U.S. In recent years, Vietnam ranked the fifth in the world after Ecuador in tuna export value to the U.S. However, since the late October 2011, Vietnam has outstripped Ecuador to become the fourth largest tuna supplier to the U.S.
Although Vietnam tuna export volume to the U.S. reduced slightly, Vietnam tuna exporters made progress in exporting tuna products to the market. In the long term, if exporters improve the quality of tuna products and food safety and hygiene, they will enlarge their share in the market.