Positive outlook for Vietnam shrimp export to France

France – a diversified shrimp market

In the recent time, three leading shrimp consumers of EU (Spain, France and Italy) still remain their position, but the market share of Spain has been contracted due to the global financial crisis, Marie Christine Monfort - a foreign marketing consultant said.

In particular, France is an active, diversified shrimp market with the fastest growth rate. The country consumes over 100,000 MT of shrimp per year, valued at EUR500 million (or US$800 million) with a positive outlook. Warm water shrimp supply for France reached EUR490 million from extra EU and EUR10 million from intra EU.

Now 80 percent of the total shrimp consumption of France is from main 10 suppliers. In three recent years, Ecuador, Madagascar and India are the main shrimp suppliers with 70 percent of the total warm water shrimp import into France. Ecuador exported the whiteleg shrimp in shell-on with sizes 80/100, 60/40 and 20/40 pieces per kilogram. Sales of organic whiteleg shrimp produced in Ecuador is strong in France.

Vietnam shrimp export to France expected to rise robustly

Many years ago, Vietnam black tiger shrimp export to France was low because France often imported shrimp from traditional markets. However, in recent years, Vietnam shrimp export to EU has increased sharply 20 percent per year in volume, even 40 percent per year in value (2008).

In 2010, Vietnam shrimp export to France reached the record of over 6,225 MT, worth nearly US$48.5 million, up nearly 35 percent in volume and over 40 percent in value on those of the same period of 2009, accounting for almost 40 percent of the total Vietnam seafood import value into France in 2010 (US$121.9 million)

In 2010, among suppliers of raw shrimp for France, Vietnam ranked the fifth after Ecuador, India, Madagascar and Thailand. However, the volume of prepared and value added products was low, representing only 21 percent of the total shrimp exports to France (US$11.7 million) and the price of Vietnam shrimp was not as competitive as that of Thailand and India shrimp. Anyway, Vietnam shrimp processors and exporters should consider the above disadvantages as an opportunity to try and increase export value to France.

Export shrimp to France must ensure the standards of food safety and must be processed under professional production lines. The requirements for prepared shrimp products (breaded, breaded and marinated) imported into France are very complicated and strict because these products are often supplied for restaurant systems.Vietnam shrimp exporters with stable export value to France are Seanamico (US$4,63 million), Minh Phu Corp (US$4,6 million), Truc An., Ltd (US$4 million), Agrexco (US$2.6 million), Minh Hai Jostoco (US$2.3 million) and Phu Cuong, Quoc Viet…

In the first six months of 2011, Vietnam seafood export to EU rose sharply 25 percent in value on that of the same period of 2010, in which export to France rose 14 percent. Among exporting seafood products, shrimp reached 3000 MT, up 20 percent on that of the same period of 2010.

In the last months of 2011, Vietnam shrimp export to France is expected to raise due to France’s high demand in the year-end holidays, especially in the last three months of 2011. However, many European shrimp importers are reducing orders and requesting for a lower price amid fears of European sovereign debt crisises which is also one of obstacles that Vietnam shrimp exporters have to confront with.

(Phuong Mai Seafood Trade Magazine)