GENERAL INFORMATION

In Vietnam, the fishery sector plays an important role in the national economy, accounting for about 4-5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and about 9-10% of national export revenue.

More than 4 millions of people working in the fishery and the growth in production have attributed to the fish exports. Thanks to strongly increase in many years, Vietnam ranks among the top ten seafood suppliers and its seafood products are exported to 170 markets in the world.

Shrimp, pangasius, tuna, squid and octopus are main seafood products exported by the country. In which, shrimp exports create about US$ 3.5 – 4 billion, make up 46-50% of the total seafood sales of Vietnam. Earnings from pangasius reached at US$ 1.7 – 1.8 billion (25% of the total) and exports from Tuna and Cephalopods are US$ 450 – 550 million for each.

Exports to the U.S, Japan, EU, China and South Korea make up 75% of Vietnam’s seafood sales to the wolrd.

5 advantages for Vietnam seafood exports:  

(1)  High commitment and participation from Government, Industry and companies for food safety, environment  and social responsibility;

(2)  Able to supply the big volume and safe quality and stable seafood products;

(3)  Meet all the customers’ requirements, incl. the vertical linkage (integration) for each species sector;

(4)  Vietnam is one in few countries in the world which has the good and stable labor resource; 

(5)  Vietnam has Agreements / FTAs with many countries and territories and has advantages both in product quality and im-ex tax.  

Export potentials

Positive signs have been seen in shrimp exports since the beginning of this year and alongside a host of favourable conditions regarding market demand, the target of earning 4 billion USD from exports has been deemed “within reach”.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2021, Vietnamese tuna exports to markets were extremely prosperous, especially to the US market.

(vasep.com.vn) The draft of Vietnam fisheries development strategy to 2030 and vision to 2045, focuses on the farming sector, including shrimp, pangasius, and marine fish ... Therefore, in this decade, Vietnam fisheries are expected to have a better growth rate. Last year, although the Covid epidemic had quite a serious impact on the global seafood supply chain, the processing and export of Vietnamese shrimp still prospered. From 2020 to early 2021 a series of new shrimp processing factories were inaugurated, signaling a new period of optimism for the Vietnamese shrimp industry.

(vasep.com.vn) After increasing by 23.4% in January 2021, reaching 606 million USD, with positive signals from pangasius, sea fish products (except tuna), whiteleg shrimp ... and exports to some key markets such as the US, Japan, Australia, Mexico, Taiwan, Brazil rose sharply, Vietnam seafood exports in February 2021 fell 19% compared to the same period in 2020, estimated at over 405 million dollars. This negative growth is due to the fact that February this year coincides with the Lunar New Year holiday, therefore the production, fishing and processing time is less than in February 2020. Thus, accumulated to the end of February 2021, seafood exports reached over 1 billion USD, up by 2.2%.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Customs statistics, in January 2021, Vietnam's seafood exports reached over 606 million USD, up by 23.4% over the same period last year. One of the reasons for the increase in exports is the period of the Lunar New Year holiday coincided in January 2020. However, the 23.4% growth rate is considered a positive signal for Vietnam's seafood exports, which is reflected in the increase in export of pangasius (+ 21.7%), other marine fish (+ 46%), whiteleg shrimp (32.5%), and bivalve mollusk (+43%).

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Department of Industry and Trade of Ca Mau province said that the shrimp processing and export situation of the province in early 2021 has been more positive, the processing output and export volume have both increased.

General objectives: Reduce maritime plastic waste in fishery sector in order to gradually manage maritime plastic waste by approaching from headwaters to the ocean, circular economy and green economic growth; raise awareness and social responsibilities of agriculture community, fishery community, and enterprises for plastic waste, and successfully achieve objectives of National strategy for general management of solid waste.

The Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu has adopted a wide range of measures to raise awareness and legal understanding among local fishermen about preventing and fighting illegal fishing.

The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has ordered its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to get tougher on illegal fishing in foreign waters by local fishing ships and their owners.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With the expectation that the impact of the COVID-19 epidemic will slow down and with the support of Free Trade Agreements, analysts in Vietnam said that the main consumption channels of seafood will gradually become active again, creastin the growth momentum for this sector in 2021. It is forecasted that Vietnam's seafood export in 2021 will reach $8.8 billion, with an increase of 5% compared to 2020.

The southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has ordered its Department of Agriculture and Rural Development to get tougher on illegal fishing in foreign waters by local fishing ships and their owners.

Farmers in the Mekong Delta province of Tien Giang are raising the fry of high - value aquatic species on an area of more than 6,000ha this year, up marginally from last year, according to the province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang has planned to further promote sustainable marine aquaculture in line with the “Strategy for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Marine Economy by 2030 with a Vision to 2045”.

Dozens of households in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh have begun sea crab breeding this year, with 37 million baby crabs on a total area of 7,330 ha.

A draft master plan for the Mekong Delta for 2021-2030 and vision to 2050, recently released to collect public feedback, views climate change as not only a challenge but also an opportunity for local development.


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