(vasep.com.vn) ASEAN is considered as a spotlight in Vietnamese cephalopod exports so far. Shipments to this block is expected to reach year-on-year growth in 2013.
Seafood producing countries in ASEAN have been considered as traditional competitors of Vietnam in the global market. However, in 2013, these countries became important cephalopod buyers of Vietnam. Cephalopod exports to ASEAN kept growing since the beginning of the year and the block ranked fourth among importers of Vietnam through November 2013. At the same time, the down trend was observed in shipments to three main markets, including South Korea, Japan and the EU.
Thailand continued to be Vietnam’s largest cephalopod importer in ASEAN, accounting for a proportion of 79 percent in Vietnamese products introduced into this block in terms of value. As cephalopod purchases by other ASEAN countries have still been low, Thailand is seen as a growth impetus in ASEAN imports from Vietnam.
In 2013, Vietnamese cephalopod cargos sent to Thailand had a worth of US$38.5 million, increasing by 12 percent year-on-year. This rise drove the eleven-month exports to ASEAN up 8.5 percent to US$48.6 million, representing 12 percent of Vietnam’s total exports of this kind of products.
Malaysia was the second biggest partner of Vietnam in ASEAN, but sales to this country dropped nearly 5 percent to US$6.2 million between January and November 2013. Vietnam also reported drop in sales to Cambodia.
Other markets in the block still got growth, especially the Philippines with a year-on-year rise of 3,451 percent.
Through November 2013, processed cephalopod items showed positive trend in exports to ASEAN. Value of other dried/grilled, processed squid and processed octopus got rise of 6.8 percent, 59 percent and 39 percent, respectively.