9 highlights on Vietnam seafood production and export in Q.II/2012

News 10:58 06/09/2012 LH

(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2012, Vietnam seafood enterprises had to struggle with a great number of challenges related to capital, raw material supply, input cost and great range of complex administrative procedures. On the turn to the second quarter, the mentioned challenges have still dominated the fisheries industry, in which lack of capital has been seen as the most concerning issue, hurting the fish processing and export activities. The state of Vietnam fisheries industry in Q.II/2012 could be figured out through the 9 following highlights:

1. Higher fishing and aquaculture production, but lower raw material prices: According to statistics from Directorate of Fisheries (D-Fish), in Q.II/2012, Vietnam fishing and aquaculture production was estimated to total 1.5 million MT, up 39 percent compared to the previous quarter and up 3 percent from the same period of 2011. The fishing sector caught 667 MT, up 19 percent from Q.I/2012 but down 0.1 percent from Q.II/2011. Aquaculture sector reached 826 MT, up 61 percent from Q.I/2012 and 5.8 percent from Q.II/2011.

2. Stronger imports of raw material from outside for processing: Vietnam tends to import more fish for processing as its domestic supply remained unstable and price of raw material kept rising as a result of higher input costs. In the second quarter of 2012, the country bought a total of 173.4 million USD of raw fish from outside. In January – June 2012, it imported raw fish from 69 countries and territories with the whole value of US$331 million, including US$13 million from returned fish cargo.

3. Slow down in export growth: Despite many challenges in Q.I/2012, Vietnam seafood exporters still reached growth of 15.3 percent from the same quarter of 2011. However, they saw sales abroad fall to 6 percent of growth in the second quarter of the year. In which, sales in June alone reported the lowest growth of 1.3 percent because of drop in shrimp trade (-4 percent), pangasius (-14.4 percent), mollusk (-5.5 percent).

4. Drop in export to the EU as a result of regional economic crisis: Economic crisis in the EU was considered as the main cause of declining demand for seafood products. Vietnam’s export to this region showed consecutive drop in January – June 2012. In the first quarter, seafood export to the EU stumbled by 7.9 percent from the same period last year. Drop in export revenue continued to go down in the second quarter by 15.5 percent. In June alone, Vietnam sales plummeted 20 percent. In Q.II/2012, the EU fell to the second position among Vietnam’s key importing markets.

5. Slow down in trade with South Korea and China: In Q.I/2012, Vietnam export to China was up almost 20 percent from the same quarter of 2011. Seafood sales into this market in Q.II/2012 slid 2 percent from the same quarter last year. According to some sources in the industry, East sea tensions had partly negative impact on trade of agricultural products (including seafood) between the two sides.

In Q.II/2012, Vietnam seafood export to Korea totaled US$127.459 million, up 7.4 percent from the same quarter of 2011 and much lower than 24 percent growth in the previous quarter. Seafood trade in June dropped 5.5 percent. South Korea is beginning to raise technical barriers to limit the great flow of imported seafood from Vietnam into the market. It is also reducing fish imports from other countries.

6. Growing seafood trade with Japan, but weakened competitiveness of Vietnam processors: On the turn of 2012, among the main global fish-consuming markets, Japan is showing stable growth in fish import and has high demand for fish. However, Vietnam seafood exporters to this market have to compete crucially with other suppliers such as India, Thailand and Indonesia. Moreover, Vietnam shrimp products are subject to new technical barriers, especially Ethoxyquin testing on seafood from Vietnam applied since the middle of May 2012 with the MRLs at a very low level of 0.01 ppm.

In Q.II/2012, fisheries sector calculated a rise of 19 percent in shipment to Japan thank to domestic abundant supply and rising consumption demand in Japanese market. In Q.II/2012, export growth went up 36.6 percent to US$283.7 million. The accumulated revenue in the first half of 2012 stood at US$512.3 million, reaching an average rise of 35.5 percent.

7. Lack of capital – Processors hard to get low interest rate bank credit: Lack of capital for producing and processing had been seen through the community of Vietnam seafood exporters since the first quarter of 2012. On the turn to the second quarter, hunger of capital impacted negatively on the national export-driven industry. Seafood processors had no more money to purchase raw material for processing. This pushed raw fish price to a very low level, particularly in shrimp and pangasius cases. In April – June 2012, price of shrimp slumped 40 percent and pangasius dropped 15 percent from April – June 2011. Lack of money for running processing chain, many companies had to reduce production for export, leading to fewer turnovers in this period, especially those in pangasius sector.

8. Pressure of current fees and procedures on seafood companies: While Vietnam seafood business community is finding capital to keep production and export activities, they are still put under pressure of a great range of existing fees and complex procedures and some new rules in the second quarter of 2012 Also in this period, costs of raw material production and seafood processing rose considerably by 15 – 35 percent due to hike price of fuel, electricity, aquatic feed and labour salary. This drove many companies into troubles and these are pushed to reduce production or do outsourcing for other processors.

9. Merge and acquisition trend among Vietnam seafood businesses – fisheries restructuring: To the end of June 2012, Vietnam counts 582 seafood exporters, down 32 percent, equal to 275 units less than the same period of the previous year. Most of those out of business abroad were trading companies which have no farming area and processing facility. Lack of comprehensive planning for seafood manufacturing also led to the decline of Vietnam’s export-driven industry. Therefore, many representatives from seafood enterprises and leaders of fisheries regulation agencies agreed that it must be the right time to restructure seafood-producing community and look towards the sustainable development. In this tough economic context, drop in the number of seafood companies as a result of bankruptcy and company merging might be an essential and positive step to reach fisheries sustainability.

To get more details on Vietnam seafood export, please access to Report on Vietnam seafood export in Q.II/2012

Bạn đang đọc bài viết 9 highlights on Vietnam seafood production and export in Q.II/2012 tại chuyên mục News của Hiệp hội VASEP

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Japan: Maintaining an edge in processed products, capturing opportunities from new consumption trends

| 09:59 23/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Japan continues to be one of Vietnam’s most important and stable shrimp markets. In recent years, shrimp exports to this market have fluctuated in line with Japan’s broader economic and consumption cycles, yet Japan remains a major, high-value destination with stringent standards.

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain double

| 09:52 21/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.

2026 shrimp season in the Mekong Delta starts early: Growth expected amid multiple challenges

| 09:00 18/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.

Vietnamese tilapia in the U.S.: Great opportunities, but significant challenges

| 16:35 16/04/2026

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.

Pangasius shifts from “volume” to “value” in 2026

| 08:32 15/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.

Gia Lai restores shrimp farming after storm, prepares for 2026 season

| 08:29 14/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.

Promoting livelihood transition to reduce pressure on fisheries exploitation

| 10:46 10/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.

High technology drives transformation of Vietnam’s shrimp industry

| 10:38 08/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.

An Giang targets stable shrimp production in 2026

| 10:11 03/04/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.

Circular economy opens new pathway to enhance pangasius value

| 10:11 31/03/2026

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.

9 highlights on Vietnam seafood production and export in Q.II/2012

Tin cùng chuyên mục

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain double

Chile’s tuna imports surge in 2025, can Vietnamese tuna accelerate?

Vietnam’s canned tuna exports decline in 2025, seeking growth momentum for 2026

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain shift sharply toward processed segments

Vietnam’s tuna on the brink of 0% tariffs in the U.S: Breakthrough potential but significant challenges remain

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel drop nearly 50% in the first 9 months of 2025

TIN MỚI CẬP NHẬT

Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Japan: Maintaining an edge in processed products, capturing opportunities from new consumption trends

Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain double

2026 shrimp season in the Mekong Delta starts early: Growth expected amid multiple challenges

Vietnamese tilapia in the U.S.: Great opportunities, but significant challenges

Pangasius shifts from “volume” to “value” in 2026

Gia Lai restores shrimp farming after storm, prepares for 2026 season

Promoting livelihood transition to reduce pressure on fisheries exploitation

High technology drives transformation of Vietnam’s shrimp industry

An Giang targets stable shrimp production in 2026

Circular economy opens new pathway to enhance pangasius value

DANH MỤC