A new opportunity for Vietnam tuna export to the U.S

In which, tuna exports to the U.S. made up the largest proportion of nearly 45 percent out of total nationwide tuna export value.

In the first months of 2012, according to economic experts, the U.S. economy remained gloomy. At the second half of 2012, the country’s economic growth is expected to be brighter as local consumers tend to boost their spending. The Federal Reserve (Fed) forecasted that growth of the U.S. GDP may reach 1.9 percent – 2.4 percent for the whole 2012.

According to statistics of Global Agricultural Trade System (GATS), in the first 4 months of 2012, the U.S. imported 79.6 thousand MT of tuna from 49 countries and territories, worth by US$451.7 million, down 15 percent in volume but up 12 percent in value year-on-year. At the same time, the number of tuna suppliers for the U.S. was fewer than that of the same period of 2011 (down 4 suppliers). In which Thailand is the largest tuna exporter to the U.S. with export volume of 30 thousand MT and value of US$149 million, down 33 percent in volume and 6 percent in value from that of the same period of 2011, making up 33 percent of total tuna import value into the U.S.

The average export price was at US$5.04 per kilogram, up 40 percent from 2011. The Philippines ranked the second in the tuna exports to the U.S. with export value of US$53 million and volume of 7.6 thousand MT, down 19 percent and 37 percent year-on-year, respectively. The average tuna import price to the U.S. rose sharply from US$4.07 per kilogram to US$7 per kilogram.

In 2011, Vietnam ranked the fourth in tuna export value to the U.S. with US$115.2 million but ranked the third in export volume after Thailand and the Philippines with 22.8 thousand MT. For the year to April 2012, Vietnam has outstripped Indonesia (both in tuna export volume and value) to grasp the third position with 10 percent proportion of total tuna import value into the U.S. The average price rose by 22.6 percent over that of the same period last year.

Tuna import volume into the U.S. has dropped drastically, mostly due to shortage of raw tuna supply from almost origins, hiking input costs for tuna producing and exporting, boosting the raw tuna price. At this time, because of globally economic uncertainty, some competitors of Vietnam in the U.S. market tends to reduce tuna export volume and value to the market compared to the same period of 2011. In detail, Thailand tuna exports to the U.S. fell by 33 percent in volume and 6 percent in value; Indonesia tuna exports to the market sank by 37 percent in volume and 19 percent in value.

Besides, the Philippines, Vietnam, Trinidad and Tobago also cut tuna export volume to the U.S. by 18 percent, 16 percent and 84 percent, respectively over 2011. Among top 10 largest tuna suppliers for the the U.S. in the first 4 months of 2012; tuna exports from China, Colombia and Mauritius grew in which the highest growth was witnessed in tuna exports of Colombia with 418 percent in volume and 210 percent in value over that of Jan-Apr 2011.

The U.S. retailers are trying to meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable seafood products. Being the country’s second most consumed seafood, it is more important to for this products certified by sustainable cerification such as MSC (Marine Stewardship Council) because consumers are taking notice and growing conscious of tuna resources conservation.

Due to high tariffs, US reduces imports of Ecuadorian tuna. Since last February 2012, when the preferential tariff expired, U.S. importers reduce their purchases of Ecuadorian tuna and find another suppliers such as Thailand. However, in the recent time, Thailand faced obstacles such as limited supply of domestic raw tuna, hiking input costs, since April 4th 2012, the country’s per capita minimum income was up 40 percent, higher than that of some ASEAN countries.

It is likely to be the high time for Vietnam tuna exporters to seize the opportunities with an aim to raise export value to the U.S. which is expected to perform well in the last months of the year.