One of priorities of the Vietnamese fishery industry is to shorten the way to European retail chains for their seafood products. However, no company is able to bring seafood products to foreign supermarkets' shelves directly. The reason is that seafood products from Vietnam have to pass many steps in the distributing chain, especially labelling and marketing, which are dominated by big fish and seafood processing and distribution groups in importing markets.
Consumers can buy fish products like pangasius loins from Vietnam in some supermarkets in Europe. All of them are sold under the brand name of European processing and distribution groups. However, consumers can find the statement "from Vietnam" on these products. It is clear that products from Vietnam have to pass a range of expensive steps to be available in European supermarkets; therefore, profit of Vietnamese export companies are tightened even though they provide pangasius at high price.
Nguyen Huu Dung, Vice President of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) analyzed that European buyers are the most important partners of Vietnam; however, they are only interested in the selling price in stead of the quality of products.
"Previously, Vietnamese exporters had no choice once European importers had willingness to buy fish at a lower price. However, Vietnam pangasius industry is changing the supply method and turning to final distributors – i.e. big supermarkets and leading retailers in Europe, which account for large market shares in this region," Mr. Dung added.
Vietnamese seafood exporters are still weak in marketing. Most of them are not paying attention to habits of final consumers in Europe.
Which kinds of designed fish products do consumers want to buy? What are recipes for pangasius? These steps are taken by middle men in foreign markets, so profit for Vietnamese company is lower and lower.
"Personally, I think that marketing is more important than increasing output. Pangasius producers must identify who eat their fish and how consumers want fish products to be processed and designed. However, distributors in foreign markets are still needed to further promotion of products to gain high selling price. Currently, Vietnamese processors and exporters are much investing in the quality, but price for pangasius products is still low," Sabine Gisch-Boie with WWF Austria explained.
Different from the U.S., European countries have very low catfish production. There is no obstacle from European Fish Procesors Association against pangasius from Vietnam. Exports of pangasius to this region may gain more advantages.
Vietnamese exporters are now focusing on convincing European consumers with pangasius products with good quality, mild flavour and easy to prepare for home meals.
According to Vietnam Customs, the export of value-added pangasius in the first eight months of 2024 has been evaluated as quite positive, with continuous growth in many major markets such as the United States, CPTPP, and the Netherlands...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Department of Fisheries of Ca Mau province coordinated with the School of Fisheries under Can Tho University to organize training courses on high-tech shrimp farming for 120 people in processors, cooperatives and families that are raising intensive and super-intensive shrimp in the province.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Currently, Soc Trang province plans to expand its shrimp farming area from over 50,000 hectares to 57,000 hectares by 2025, aiming for a production of 233,800 tons and maintaining a $1 billion export value. The project will establish 45 climate-resilient shrimp farming models and ensure all farms meet aquaculture standards for traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In July 2024, Vietnam's fish cake and surimi exports declined. The export value reached just over 24 million USD, down 3% over the same period. In the first 7 months of 2024, the cumulative export of this product group reached 152 million USD, down 13%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Dong Thap is a key region for pangasius farming, boasting the largest production in the Mekong Delta. In the first seven months of 2024, the estimated aquaculture area reached 4,778 hectares, with a harvest yield of 307,336 tons. Of this, the intensive pangasius farming area covered 2,042 hectares, with a harvest of 252,670 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, in the first half of August 2024, Vietnam's pangasius exports to the EU reached nearly 8 million USD, up 57% over the same period. Cumulative pangasius exports to this market as of August 15, 2024, reached 107 million USD, up 0.5% over the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Board of Directors of International Development & Investment Corporation (IDI) is confident of completing this year's profit plan in the context of gradually recovering demand for pangasius in China and Mexico.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Some farmers in Soc Trang province have successfully applied a balanced biological shrimp farming technique, which eliminates the use of chemicals to minimize environmental impacts. This is a model of farming that adapts to climate change.
8 finalists have been named in the best new seafood product competition to be awarded at Seafood Expo Asia, taking place 4 to 6 September at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
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