Opportunities for boosting seafood exports to Australia

Vietnam is now one of the three major seafood suppliers for the Australia, after New Zealand and China. In recent years, Vietnam seafood, especially pangasius, is increasingly favored in the country. This is owing to efforts from government agencies such as the Embassy of Vietnam in Australia, Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), and Australian seafood importers represented by the Seafood Importers Association of Australia.

Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition -VIETFISH held by VASEP in Ho Chi Minh City is an important occasion for seafood importers around the world to understand more and more on fish production and processing capacity as well as seafood products of Vietnam. In the framework of VIETFISH 2014 (6 - 8 August 2014), a field trip was organized from 3^rd to 10^th August 2014 by Vietnam Trade Office in Australia collaborating with VASEP. Sydney Fish Market (SFM) Board of Management and Seafood Importers Association of Australia (SIAA) took the field trip and observed aquacultural activities in some provinces such as An Giang, Can Tho, Nha Trang.

The delegation highly appreciated production capacity and had good impression with closed fish farms. Quality is ensured from fingerling and fish feeding. International safety and hygiene requirements are met by these companies.

The purpose for participating the exhibition is to meet Vietnam leading officials as well as Vietnam seafood processors and exporters to promote seafood trade between the two countries and to increase export turnover by removing trade barriers, said Mr. Normant Grant, Chairman of SIAA, at VIETFISH 2014.

VIETFISH 2014 welcomed representatives from Australian delegation including Sydney Fish Market (SFM) Board of Management. This is the biggest wholesale seafood market in the Southern Hemisphere. This visit is hoped to contribute to promote Vietnam seafood products and to create a chance for premium seafood products to be sold at Sydney Fish Market.

At VIETFISH, Australian delegation met and discussed with Tran Tuan Anh, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, on the removal of some certain trade barriers between the two countries as well as marketing strategies to increase production and export value of Vietnam seafood to Australia.

Regarding to pangasius, Sydney Fish Market is considered a good promotion and advertisement channel for Vietnam premium pangasius. Regarding to shrimp, at the booth of Minh Phu Corporation, Australian delegation had a discussion on possibilities for exporting high quality organic shrimps to Australia and selling them at Sydney Fish Market in the near future.

The last 3 years witnessed positive growth in Vietnam seafood export to Australia while exports to other major markets fluctuated. In 2013, Vietnam seafood exports to Australia reached US$ 206.4 million, up 12.3% year on year. In the first six months of 2014, seafood exports to this market impressively increased by 34.5% comparing to the same period in 2013.

Vietnam pangasius is increasingly popular in Australia, but shrimp is the most exported commodity here. In 2013, shrimp exports to Australia reached US$ 128.7 million, up 27.5% year on year, accounting for 62% of total seafood export value of Vietnam to Australia.

According to Mr. Normant Grant, black tiger shrimp is the most consumed in Australia. Statistics shows that Vietnam ranks the second biggest shrimp supplier to Australia, but in terms of producing black tiger shrimp, it is currently number 1 in the world.  Therefore, there are colossal potentials for further seafood exports, and black tiger prawns in particular, to the Australia.