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

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Typical representatives of Vietnam's seafood industry in key products such as pangasius, shrimp and seafood all attended the fair, in addition to the presence of new businesses participating for the first time.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The general context of January, with the New Year holidays and the Lunar New Year, inevitably caused the export of Vietnamese goods to decrease over the same period. Particularly, seafood exports decreased by nearly half to only USD 456 million. Besides, inflation and economic recession caused orders from major markets to drop sharply.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in January, seafood exports in the first half of February 2023 increased by 42% over the same period. The total seafood export value in February reached about 662 million USD, a slight increase of 4% compared to the same period in 2022.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Hoan JSC approved the plan to buy land to fund aquaculture in An Giang province.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's exports of cephalopod in January 2023 were estimated at US$65.8 million, up 4% over the same period in 2021. Export of this item is expected to reach about US$875 million in 2023, an increase of 15% compared to 2022.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Many unexpected events affected the operation of the seafood industry in 2022. However, in danger lies opportunity, the industry has overcome a difficult period and achieved unexpected results. Many seafood exporters have had a bumper business season.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In January 2023, following the trend of the last quarter of 2022 plus the Lunar New Year holiday, Vietnam's tuna exports continued to decline sharply. Tuna export turnover this month reached just over 50 million USD, down 43% compared to the same period in 2022.

Vietnam has great potential and advantages to develop oyster production chains, experts said at a conference on aquaculture technology organised in Ho Chi Minh City on February 14 by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2022, Vietnam pangasius exports to China & Hong Kong reached 712 million USD, up 58% compared to 2021. The two main product lines exported to China are frozen pangasius fillets (HS code 030462) accounted for over 74% of the value with 531 million USD and frozen pangasius butterfly (HS code 030324) accounted for over 25% with nearly 180 million USD.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although the US economy grew more than expected in the last quarter of 2022, consumer demand in the US consumer group remained low. This also shows that the economic recession is still a big risk in 2023. And this will definitely affect Vietnam's tuna exports to the US.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although in the last quarter of 2022, Vietnam's pangasius exports fell to the lowest level of the year with 475 million USD, down 12% compared to the same period in 2021 due to the impact of inflation. However, compared to other seafood sectors, pangasius still has a better prospect in 2023, thanks to positive signals from two major markets, China and the US.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In January 2023, following the trend of the last quarter of the previous year, Vietnam seafood exports continued to decline deeply. It is estimated that in the first month of the year, seafood exports decreased by 31%, reaching about 600 million USD. In which, pangasius decreased by 50%, shrimp decreased by 46%, tuna decreased by 32%. Only cephalopods and other marine fishes were able to maintain a positive growth of 4% and 6% respectively.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After the 2023 Lunar New Year, most workers at producing and processing agricultural and aquatic products factories have returned to work.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the first working day after the Tet holiday, workers of Hung Ca Co.Ltd are busy preparing for an export order of 21 pangasius fillets (equivalent to 400 tons). The company’s leaders are very optimistic about the pangasius exports in the new year. In 2022, the company exports pangasius worthed about 350 million USD.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanks to the changing market structure and increase in deep processing, FIMEX VN, one of the mainstay shrimp exporters in Mekong Delta recorded high export revenue.


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