(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Japan reached over US$617.7 million, up 1.7 percent from 2011. Japan’s decision to test Ethoxyquin residue on 100 percent of shrimp consignments originated from Vietnam with maximum residue limit (MRL) of 0.01 ppm (10ppb) has negatively affected to Vietnam shrimp exporters to the market because MRL of 0.01 ppm is too low and unfair to Vietnam’s shrimp exporters.

(vasep.com.vn) The number of Vietnam seafood exporters in 2012 reduced by 30% due to some main difficulties such as capital shortage for production and processing and lower demands in import markets. Among the enterprises who has suspended exports, pangasius enterprises accounted a significant proportion. Surviving enterprises are mostly ones having stable capital and strong foothold in the markets. Top 20 pangasius exporters with the export turnover of US$1.071 billion made up 61.4 percent of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value of US$1.745 billion.

With a value that’s estimated somewhere between USD 10 billion (EUR 7.6 billion) and USD 23 billion (EUR 17.4 billion) annually, illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing is surely the biggest global problem facing the seafood industry.

Shrimp exports generated USD 1,276.9 million during 2012. Shipments of canned fish products were very close, contributing to the country with USD 1,126 million, said the Central Bank of Ecuador (BCE).

Bluefin tuna that were raised in a farm and released into the wild have survived, according to the Japanese researchers.

Fiji says the Economic Partnership Agreement currently being negotiated with the European Union needs to allow fish exporters access to European markets on a duty free basis.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, shrimp imports into Vietnam was estimated at US$170 million including US$105 million of whiteleg shrimp and US$33 million of black tiger shrimp.

Vietnam gained ground in Norway’s shrinking canned tuna market last year, while the northern European country consistently rejected tuna products from Thailand over food safety concerns.

Honduras' National Aquaculture Association (Andah) has said the country has found a way to grow tilapia in salt water.

The National Fisheries Society (SNP) estimates that fisheries exports will generate about USD 3,000 million this year, a figure similar to that of last year, when USD 3,268 million were obtained.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, Vietnam exported its pangasius to 142 nations and territories, increasing from 136 ones in 2011, reaching value of US$1.744 billion, decreasing by 3.4 percent compared to 2011.

In December 2012, 361,000 tonnes of fish were landed in Peruvian ports, accounting for 80 per cent less than the same month of 2011, when landings totalled 1,799,400 tonnes.

Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) expected that seafood exports would help the industry obtain this year’s revenue target of US$6.5 billion as many challenges in aquatic farming sectors are foreseen.

Japan, one of the skipjack supplier to the Thai tuna canning industry, shipped about a third less in frozen whole round skipjack tuna to Thailand last year compared to 2011.

(vasep.com.vn) Shrimp imports into EU in 2012 faced the worst scenario. In the first 9 months of 2012, the region’s total shrimp import value shrank 29 percent year on year from US$4.511 billion to US$3.197 billion.