Marine fish occupied 40 percent of total seafood export in 2012

In Jan-Sep 2012, marine product exports including marine shrimp reached US$1.78 billion, up 20.5 percent from Jan-Sep 2011 and accounting for 39.4 percent of total seafood exports nationwide.

The growth in exporting catched fish was contributed significantly by tuna and finfish. The growth is thanks to hiking domestic fish landings and increasing demand from consumer markets and shrinking production in other countries such as Indonesia and Thailand.

In 2012, processors sought to import raw marine products in all varieties for processing and exporting with an aim to intensifying export value and creating jobs for workers.

Forecast on marine product exports in Q. IV

In the last quarter of the year, total export of marine products is projected to reach over  US$550 million, showing an increase of 5 percent on par with the same period of 2011 and pushing total export of the whole 2012 up to US$2.2 billion, an advance of 19 percent from that of 2011.

Tuna: Demand for tuna in many consumer markets is still high. In the fourth quarter, tuna exports is expected to reach US$160 million, up 6.5 percent over that of Q.III/2012, bringing total tuna export turnover in 2012 to US$600 million, up 57 percent from that of 2011. In which exports to potential markets such as Israel, Iran, South Korea, Mexico will rise by 10-15 percent over that of Q.III and up 50-150 percent over that of the same period of 2011.

Cephalopod: Hopefully, in the fourth quarter, exports of these items will touch about US$130 million, representing slight advance from that of the previous quarter. Importing demand from South Korea, EU falls sharply compared to the same time of 2011.

The output of squid, especially octopus sharply drops by 5 percent over that of the same period of last year. Thus, in Q.IV, imports of raw cephalopod for processing and exporting will continue to edge up 10-20 percent from that of the corresponding period of 2011.

Bivalve mollusk: In the last quarter of 2012, bivalve mollusk exports are estimated to obtain US$21 million, up 10 percent over the previous quarter but down 3 percent over the fourth quarter of 2011. Expectedly, in 2012, bivalve mollusk shipment gains nearly US$80 million, down 1.2 percent over 2011 because demand from large importers falls, export price reports slight growth of 2 percent or equal to 2011.

Marine finfish, fish paste and surimi: Exports of these items in 2012 are forecasted to reach US$230 million. Exports of fish paste and surimi to South Korea, Japan, EU are hoped to rise by 5 percent over that of 2011. Exports of fish paste and surimi reported the strongest growth this year.

Crab & swimming crab and other crustacean: In Q.IV, exports of these items will reach about US$37 million, up 5 percent over that of Q.III but down nearly 4 percent from that of the same period of last year.