(vasep.com.vn) In recent years, Vietnam seafood exports in general and Ba Ria – Vung Tau seafood exports in particular reported strong growth. However, the growth rate is not sustainable because local seafood enterprises are mainly exporting semi-processed products.
In Ba Ria – Vung Tau province, seafood exports play a key role in local export activities, accounting for 18 percent of total export structure of the province (apart from oil and gas). However, in the seafood export structure, the province is mainly exporting raw fish or semi-processed products and exporting less value-added or further-processed seafood products. According to statistics of seafood industry, further-processed seafood exports only made up 25 – 30 percent and the other were exported under raw presentation.
In Ba Ria – Vung Tau, export value of further-processed seafood only occupied one third of total seafood export turnover. In fact, seafood presentation for export depends on customers’ demand and exporters must meet their demand, even they want to buy raw or semi-processed fish.
In Ba Ria – Vung Tau, there are 156 seafood processing plants in which 32 plants approved to EU code and 55 ones adhere to HACCP standard. Thanks to the standards, local seafood enterprises can meet demand of “strict” markets. Local seafood enterprises are able to operate with annual processing capacity of 100,000 – 150,000 MT of fish which are mostly raw fish.
Ba Ria – Vung Tau Seafood Processing and Im-Ex Joint Stock Company (Baseafood) exported 8 – 10,000 MT of seafood with export turnover of US$20 – US$22 million per annum. To increase its export turnover, the company must strengthen to produce value-added seafood products. The company should hold initiative in offering foreign partners new products as well as focus on training skillful workers.
Some foreign countries put a ban on the export of raw fish. It forces domestic exporters to export further-processed seafood products. It may be a good idea for Vietnam. Vietnam should put specific policies on seafood quality and value for export with an aim to raising export value, fetching great foreign currency and protecting source of raw fish.