According to the Khanh Hoa Province Sub-Department of Aquaculture, the province’s aquaculture production is expected to reach 24,540 MT in 2013, up 6.7 percent year on year.

The southernmost province of Ca Mau is striving to make a seafood output of 380,000 tons and seafood export turnovers of US$1 billion in 2013.

(vasep.com.vn) The number of Vietnam seafood exporters in 2012 reduced by 300 ones from over 900 to over 600. Enterprises which were out of business are mainly commercial companies and exporters facing hardship in capital and import markets. This reflected bottlenecks in enterprises’ seafood trade and exports and it is necessary for them to restructure to overcome difficulties.

Total home tuna consumption in France, including fresh and smoked, was 66,063 metric tons in 2012, down 6%, according to data from Europanel and the Norwegian Seafood Council.

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam tuna exports in 2012 have posted a double growth of 50 percent from 2011 and reached US$569 million although economies in some main tuna importing countries are already in recession.

The value of tilapia imports entering the United States rose 16.7 percent in 2012 from the previous year, nearing $1 billion (€746 million).

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, Vietnam crab exports to the U.S. accounted for 50 percent of Vietnam’s total exports of these items. The U.S. continued to affirm its top rank among the largest importing markets.

The European Commission said it has re-authorized the use of processed animal proteins (PAPs) derived from non-ruminant farmed animals, in this case mainly pigs and poultry, in fish feed, AFP reported.

The equity analysts of Bualuang Securities’ research team have issued last week their latest report on the outlooks Thai Union Frozen Products Plc (TUF).

Frozen yellowfin tuna steaks and loins treated with carbon monoxide and exported to the US market – mostly from Indonesia – could face a tariff charge, if the US Customs authority changes the classification of the treated tuna to a “prepared or preserved item.”

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam pangasius industry will stop boosting production and farming areas in 2013, according to Vu Van Tam – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry at the conference on pangasius production and consumption in Mekong Delta to wrap up the industry’s activities in 2012 and undertake new plans for 2013.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, decline in export value was seen in most main markets of Vietnam pangasius. However, the fish shipment to Egypt has kept growth and is hoped to increase in 2013 as the country still showed high demand for pangasius products.

(vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, in 2012, fish imports into Vietnam gained US$655 million, up 21 percent compared to 2011. Due to lack of domestic supply of raw material, Vietnam continued to boost imports of raw seafood processing and exporting to meet orders.

Surimi producers are bracing themselves for another difficult year:

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam seafood exports in January 2013 reached US$486.7 million, up 34.1% over the same month of 2012. Shipment to main markets recorded a double to triple digit growth with the largest growth of 111% to ASEAN. It was followed by China and Hong Kong with a rise of 97%, Brazil 89% and Australia 84.5%. Exports to others increased by 15 – 20%, except for Russia with negative growth of 40%.