In the second quarter of 2012, Vietnam bought a total of US$173.4 million of raw fish from outside. In January – June 2012, it imported raw fish from 69 countries and territories with the total value of US$331 million, including US$13 million from returned fish cargo.
The most important supplier of Vietnam was Taiwan, mostly marine fish species. In which skipjack tuna accounted for the largest proportion.
Indonesia and Thailand were also main tuna suppliers of Vietnam. In addition, Vietnam processors purchased a great volume of shrimp from these countries as they failed to find enough fish in domestic market and the price was much higher than that of imported shrimp.
For the period, versue exports, the proportion of imported seafood into Vietnam for outsourcing and re-export was nearly 11 percent. So products derived from imported fish occupy a part in the national export earnings. Being similar to other local producing countries like Thailand, Vietnam government needs to review and amend its policies on import tax, quality inspection of exported seafood to the EU and bank guarantee for tax payment grace…in order to help seafood companies get more raw material for processing and re-export, bringing higher revenue and keeping jobs for workers.
In Q.II/2012, imported fish still remained under the pressure of high quarantine fees for consignment regulated in Circular No.4/2012/TT-BTC by Vietnam Ministry of Finances. Importers must be charged of the quarantine fee which is 300 percent higher than those set in the Circular 199/2010/TT-BTC of 13th December 2010. The fee calculation will be based on consignment weight.
In addition, ocean freight was two times higher than last year, leading to huge cost for imported fish. While Vietnamese seafood processors were grappling with serious lack of capital for operating, Vietnam Customs (under Ministry of Finances) suggested that companies needed bank guarantee to get import tax payment grace period of 275 days. Many of them worried that the complex procedures may lead to waste of time and money.
In 2012 and the coming years, Vietnam seafood companies are predicted to struggle with persistent difficulties concerning lack of capital and rise of 10 – 35 percent in all input (electricity, water, worker salary, raw material supply, testing fees, fuel, packaging…), so that import of seafood material for further processing to export is expected to rise.
|
Vietnam import of fish, Jan – Jun 2012 |
|||||
|
No. |
Origin |
Value (US$) |
No. |
Origin |
Value (US$) |
|
1 |
Taiwan |
34,844,390 |
12 |
Canada |
9,020,162 |
|
2 |
Indonesia |
29,545,130 |
13 |
Ecuador |
8,287,990 |
|
3 |
The U.S. |
25,205,436 |
14 |
Denmark |
7,684,646 |
|
4 |
Norway |
22,358,624 |
15 |
China |
7,184,402 |
|
5 |
Japan |
21,026,424 |
16 |
Spain |
5,195,361 |
|
6 |
South Korea |
20,875,321 |
17 |
Tuvalu |
4,724,041 |
|
7 |
Thailand |
19,457,384 |
18 |
New Zealand |
4,665,734 |
|
8 |
Poland |
15,824,140 |
19 |
Myanmar |
4,317,854 |
|
9 |
India |
13,053,798 |
20 |
The U.K |
3,895,645 |
|
10 |
Russia |
10,553,422 |
|
Others |
54,105,118 |
|
11 |
Chile |
9,111,025 |
|
Total |
330,936,047 |
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(vasep.com.vn) At the seminar “Global Seafood Markets and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities and Directions for the Sustainable Development of Vietnam’s Fisheries Sector,” held as part of VIETFISH 2026, Ms. Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy, Fisheries Officer (Markets) and GLOBEFISH Coordinator at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), presented initiatives aimed at promoting youth participation in fisheries and aquaculture.
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(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Held as part of Vietfish 2026 from August 19–21 at SECC in Ho Chi Minh City, a series of five specialized seminars provided the seafood business community with updates on markets, technology, standards, human resources and cooperation opportunities. With the participation of experts, international organizations, government agencies and businesses from Vietnam and abroad, the seminars created an additional platform for professional exchange alongside the exhibition’s product showcases and business networking activities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – VIETFISH 2026 officially opened at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. With 568 booths representing 335 companies, alongside the presence of senior government officials, local authorities, diplomatic missions and international partners, VIETFISH 2026 kicks off three days of business networking, technology exchange and market engagement under the overarching theme “Innovation and Sustainability.”
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) officially announces that the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place from August 19–21, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
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