Vietnam tuna exports edged up in Jan 2016

The early 2016 was a good time for fishing activities due to favorable weather and being the Northern fishing season. Tuna production of 3 main producing provinces in Jan 2016 estimated at 1,445 MT, up 9% over the same period last year. In which, tuna yield in Phu Yen province was 640 MT, up 16.4%, Binh Dinh with 500 MT, up 1.2%, Khanh Hoa with 305 MT, up 9% year on year.

According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam’s exports of tuna fillets/loins in the first month of this year rose over 68%, while other products fell. The total export value of the item in Jan hit over US$18 million. This remained to be the main tuna item exported by Vietnam.

Top 8 main markets of Vietnam tuna have been changed. Tuna exports to the EU, ASEAN and Japan posted year-on-year decrease of 23.9%, 13.4% and 45%, respectively. Among leading importers of Vietnam tuna, Japan has slipped to the 5th rank after Israel.

The U.S.

In the early this year, Vietnam's tuna exports to the U.S. went up. The total value of tuna exports to the market in Jan touched nearly US$12.9 million, up 57% over the same period in 2015.

The U.S. is now the largest market of Vietnam’s canned tuna and tuna fillets/ loins. Remarkably, Vietnam’s exports of tuna fillets/loins to the market up two-fold over last year. The export value of these two items were US$3.9 million and US$8.3 million, up 52% and 91% respectively over the same period last year.

The EU

Tuna exports to the EU were still gloomy in Jan 2016. Tuna exports to the market in Jan reached nearly US$7.8 million, down 24% over the same period last year.

Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are the leading markets in the bloc. While Vietnam's tuna exports to Italy increased nearly 62%, exports to Germany dropped by 33%.

Netherlands reported the 3 digit growth of 221%, outstripping Spain to claim as the third rank.

ASEAN

In the early 2016, Vietnam's tuna exports to ASEAN countries witnessed the year-on-year decline. Vietnam's tuna exports to these countries reached nearly US$4.2 million, down 13% from the same period last year.

Thailand remained to be the largest importer of Vietnam tuna in Jan, with nearly US$2.9 million, down 37% compared to Jan 2015. Thailand mainly imported processed tuna products under HS 16 (excepting for canned tuna) from Vietnam. This year, the country tends to reduce importing all tuna products from Vietnam.

Japan

Vietnam's tuna exports to Japan continued the downward trend in Jan 2016. Vietnam's tuna exports to the market in Jan reached nearly US$2 million, down 45% over the same period of 2015.

Most of Vietnam’s tuna products exported to Japan posted year-on-year decrease, excepting for fresh, live and frozen tuna.

In the coming time, Vietnam's tuna exports expected to remain the growth.

Written by Nguyen Ha

Compiled by Dieu Thuy