(vasep.com.vn) Through November 2013, Vietnam cephalopod exports hit US$403.5 million, down 13 percent year-on-year. This is the deepest dive in sales of Vietnam’s exported seafood items. Follows are some remarkable highlights of cephalopod sector in 2013.
1. Lack of raw material
In 2013, cephalopod processors faced undersupply of raw material for processing. Cephalopod production in 2013 fell due to storms, rocketing input costs for fishing. Through November 2013, cephalopod landings of provinces (Khanh Hoa, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Kien Giang, Binh Thuan) reduced by 30-70 percent year-on-year.
2. Up in imports of raw material
Cephalopod processors must import raw material from India, Indonesia, Thailand and Pakistan due to shortage of domestic supply. This was attributable to dwindle stocks, domestic supply failed to meet requirements for exporting. According to Vietnam Customs, through November 2013, cephalopod imports into the country reached US$35 million, up 49.5 percent year-on-year.
3. Export turnover sank
Domestic raw material can meet only 10 percent of processors’ demand. Cephalopod landings at Hon Ro port (Khanh Hoa province) made up 5-10 percent of landings of the previous year. In South Korea market, the price of cephalopod from Vietnam was lower than that of the same period last year. Many Korean importers shifted to other suppliers (Mauritania, China) that offer products with lower prices. Vietnam’s cephalopod exports to South Korea and Japan in 2013 saw a sharp fall.
4. Weakened demands from main markets
Through November 2013, Vietnamese cephalopod exports to main markets like South Korea, Japan and the EU reported drop of 9 percent, 17 percent and 26 percent respectively. European demands for imported products have been weak as the result of economic crisis. The prices for these products were at low and unchanged level. In Korean and Japanese markets, Vietnamese cephalopod suppliers were facing tough competition with products with stable quality and reasonable price from other countries such as China, Mauritania, Indonesia, Morocco, Senegal...
5. Quiet trend in the global market
Apart from Vietnam, other cephalopod producing countries are experiencing a tough year of low profits and lack of buyers. Thailand, saw a 5-year sharpest decline of 17 percent in squid and octopus sales abroad. Other countries - including Spain, India, Indonesia, Morocco – also saw the same situation as big suppliers in ASEAN. With cheaper price, only Chinese products have kept its share in some big markets like the EU, Korea and the U.S.
Kim Thu - Ngoc Ha