Jan-Apr 2016: A positive growth for Vietnam shrimp exports

Shrimp exports in each month of the first 4 months of this year reported month-on-month growth. In Jan-Apr 2016, shrimp exports reported the highest revenue of US$240.8  million in March while exports in February reported the lowest of US$151 million.

Global shrimp price tend to inch up because currency market was more stable (rise in JPY; more stability in the value of USD, EUR and currencies of Vietnam’s competitors). The price of domestic raw shrimp was higher than the same period of last year. Shrimp demand from main markets was stronger thanks to the stability in supply-demand at these markets. Vietnam shrimp exporters still benefit from lower duty rate of POR9. The shrimp supply from main producers like India, Thailand, Ecuador was affected by bad weather and diseases. The aboving factors helped to facilitate Vietnam shrimp exports in the first 4 months of this year.

Out of total shrimp exports by Vietnam in Jan-Apr 2016, the proportion of exported whiteleg shrimp and marine shrimp fell 0.3% and 0.9%, respectively while that of black tiger shrimp rose 2.2%. Demand for Vietnamese black tiger shrimp was higher thanks to its competitive price.

Among total shrimp exports, whiteleg shrimp took the highest proportion of 57.4%, followed by black tiger shrimp with the proportion of 34.2% and the next was marine shrimp with 8.4%. For more detail, live/fresh/frozen whiteleg shrimp (HS code 03) was the most exported item with the revenue of US$265.8 million, making up 30.9% of the total shrimp exports. It was followed by live/fresh/frozen black tiger shrimp (HS 03) with the turnover of US$248.9 million, making up 29%.

Out of total shrimp exports in the period, exports of other processed black tiger shrimp (HS 16) and other dried shrimp (HS 03) reported the highest growth of 37% while exports of canned other shrimp (HS 16) reported the deepest dive of 62% with modest value of US$1.1 million.

Top 10 largest markets of Vietnam shrimp included the US, EU, Japan, China, South Korea, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, Taiwan and Switzerlands, making up 94.2% of the total shrimp exports. Shrimp exports to main markets reported the year-on-year growth like the US (21.8%), EU (+12.1%), China (+28.1%). The decline was seen in exports to markets such as Taiwan (-29.7%), Canada (-23.3%).

Vietnam shrimp exports to the US in Jan-Apr 2016 increased by 21.8% to reach US$199.8 million. The export price of Vietnam to the US tends to inch down, particularly the price of black tiger shrimp which are more competitive than those of competitors (India, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia).

Vietnam shrimp exports to EU up 12.1% in which exports to the UK and Belgium rose 38.9% and 65.1%, respectively from the same period of last year.

In QII/2016, factors of supply – demand are favoring for Vietnam shrimp. It is expected that Vietnam shrimp exports in QII will reach US$780 million, up 10% year on year.

By Kim Thu