(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 9 months of 2016, Vietnam tuna exports totaled US$354.6 million, an increase of 3.8% over the same period last year. Of that, exports of fresh/live/frozen tuna (HS code 03) accounted for 57.8% of total export value.
The U.S.
As of Sep 2016, the U.S. retained as the largest importer of Vietnam tuna, accounting for 40.8% of Vietnam tuna exports, with the value of US$144.5 million, up 2.2% year on year. This year, demand for canned tuna in the U.S. was on the downward trend despite a slump in global tuna price. Currently, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia were top 3 largest suppliers of tuna to the market, in which, shipments from Thailand took up 25.5-28% of the U.S imports. In spite of the year-on-year decreases of 7.3-20.6% in the first 2 quarters of this year, Vietnam tuna exports to the U.S. rebounded from May 2016, and expected to rise sharply in the last quarter.
EU
The EU stayed as the 2nd biggest buyer of Vietnam's tuna. In Jan-Sep 2016, sales to the region reached US$73.9 million, down 3.3% compared the same period of 2015. In particular, out of top 3 largest markets in the bloc, exports to Italy and Belgium registered the climbs of 116.3% and 23.5%, respectively, while those to Germany posted a fall of 41.2% year on year.
ASEAN, Israel and China
Through Sep 2016, Vietnam tuna exports to 3 potential markets, including ASEAN, Israel and China remained quite stable. Exports to Thailand picked up almost 7% of total tuna exports, up 24.3% over the same period last year. Thailand was both a tuna importer and a supplier of Vietnam.
According to the ITC, in the first half of 2016, total tuna imports into Israel hit over US$37 million, of which, imports from Thailand reached US$10.8 million, those from the Philippines was over US$8 million, and those from Vietnam touched US$7 million. Israel is a potential market, Vietnam tuna exporters continue to boost exports of processed tuna (HS code 4160414) to the market.
Through Sep 2016, Vietnam tuna exports to China gained US$15 million, up 56.3% over the same period last year. In the coming time, China remains as a potential market of Vietnam. Besides, exports to Canada and Mexico also expected to go up in the last quarter of the year.
Written by Ta Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy