QI/2017: Vietnam shrimp exports to EU went up 6.4%

In Jan-Mar this year, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to this market showed the positive growth in January and February but witneesed a slight decrease in March.

The UK, the Netherlands and Germany were top three main importers of Vietnam shrimp in the EU. Shrimp exports to the UK, the largest buyer of Vietnam shrimp in the bloc, dropped 2.8% to eye US$27.8 million in the first three months of this year. After a strong growth throughout 2015 and the first three quarters of 2016, shrimp exports to the UK in the last quarter of 2016 fell by 3.9%. In early 2017, exports to this market grew positively in January and February before declining in March. Although demand for warm-water shrimp in the UK remained high thanks to reasonable prices and a drop in supplies of cold-water shrimp. However, Vietnam shrimp exports to the UK were unstable due to Brexit.

Like the UK, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Germany valued at US$18.4 million, falling by 22.8% over the same period in 2016.

Out of top three main shrimp importing markets of Vietnam in the EU, shipments to the Netherlands recorded the highest growth of 82.5% to hit US$26.5 million. The Netherlands was currently the second largest importer of Vietnam shrimp in the EU. In 2016, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the Netherlands reported the continuous growth. Particularly in the first three months of 2017, shrimp exports to the market posted the 2-3 digrit growth over the same period in 2016.

Imports of whiteleg shrimp from Vietnam into the Netherlands took up the main proportion of 69% and those of black tiger shrimp accounted for 21% of total exports. For whiteleg shrimp products, exports of processed items (HS code 16) to the Netherlands were higher than those of live/fresh/frozen items (HS code 03). For black tiger shrimp products, the Netherlands preferred ecports of live/fresh/frozen items (HS code 03) than those of processed items (HS code 16).

In 2016, the top 5 largest shrimp suppliers to the Netherlands was India (accounting for 17.6% of total shrimp imports into the Netherlands); Vietnam (accounting for 15.6%); Morocco (12.3%); Bangladesh (12.2%) and Germany (8%).

Of the two largest shrimp suppliers to the Netherlands (India and Vietnam), in 2016, the Netherlands tended to imports shrimp from Vietnam with higher volume thanks to stable quality products, Vietnamese sellers enjoyed tax incentives for exports to the market.

Top three major shrimp suppliers to the EU in 2016 were Ecuador, India and Vietnam. While India tends to reduce exports of shrimp to the EU, Ecuador and Vietnam are increasingly boosting shrimp exports to the market. Currently, Ecuador is Vietnam's main competitor in the EU.

In the coming time, the EU continues to be an important importing market of Vietnamese shrimp thanks to stable demand. Besides, Vietnam’s shrimp suppliers are entitled to GSP incentives for exports to the market.

Written by Kim Thu

Compiled by Dieu Thuy