(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the data of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam's cephalopod exports in QI/2022 reached over 156 million USD, up 35% over the same period last year.
In the structure of exported cephalopod products, squid accounted for 54.6% and octopus accounted for 45.4%. In the first quarter of this year, the export value of squid increased by 40% while octopus increased by 29% compared to the same period in 2021. Import demand for processed cephalopod products tended to increase strongly.
Export value of squid products all increased; in which, dried/grilled squids and fresh/frozen squids increased by 33% and 38% respectively. Notably, the export value of processed squid recorded the strongest increase of 99% compared to the same period last year.
The top 5 largest cephalopod import markets include South Korea, Japan, China & Hongkong, Thailand, the EU, the US, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Israel, accounting for 98.4% of the total export value of Vietnam’s cephalopod.
In the above major markets in QI/2022, exports to China & Hongkong experienced the highest growth of 143%. Exports to Japan increased by 50%, exports to South Korea and to the EU increased by 16% and 47% respectively. However, exports to Thailand fell slightly by 0.4%.
South Korea is the largest import market of Vietnam's cephalopod, accounting for 35% of the total export value. In QI/2022, cephalopod exports to this market reached over 55 million USD, up 16%. In the structure of cephalopod products exported to South Korea, the export value of processed squid recorded the strongest increase of 123%, but processed octopus exports decreased by 7%.
According to the data of the International Trade Center (ITC), in the first two months of this year, South Korea's cephalopod imports reached 127 million USD, a decrease of 12% over the same period last year. Vietnam is South Korea’s second largest supplier of cephalopod, after China.
Japan ranked second in importing cephalopod from Vietnam, accounting for 23% of the total export value. In the first quarter of this year, cephalopod exports to Japan reached 36 million USD, up 50% over the same period last year. In the structure of cephalopod products exported to Japan, the export value of processed octopus increased the most by 151%. However, the exports of dried/grilled squids decreased by 97%.
In the next quarter, cephalopod exports are expected to maintain the growth momentum. However, the lack of raw materials and fishing activities affected by high gasoline prices are still the challenges that businesses have to face in the coming time.
Compiled by Phuong Linh