Khanh Hoa expects a 0.5-percent rise in 2014 seafood exports

Last year, Khanh Hoa reported an ever better export result compared to the previous years. Seafood exports increased in both volume and value. Whiteleg shrimp and tuna were two key export items. Local companies also imported fish and cephalopod to process and re-export, contributing to the provincial high export value.

Exports of whiteleg shrimp products increased in volume, as there were stronger demands from consumer markets. In 2013, Khanh Hoa exported 29,000 MT of shrimp products, accounting for 50 percent of the locality's total seafood sales abroad.

The U.S., Japan and the EU remained the important markets for Khanh Hoa's seafood, representing nearly 60 percent of annual seafood exports. The U.S. ranked first with 24.1 percent of proportion, followed by the EU with 19.2 percent and Japan with 14.4 percent.

In 2013, Khanh Hoa seafood exports reached US$325 million, up 0.9 percent against those of 2012 and up 0.5 percent compared to the yearly plan. This rise is driven by the improved quality of exported products, which help exporters raise their competitiveness in the global market. Better legal framework and good management of local regulatory agency also facilitated seafood export activities.

Khanh Hoa-based seafood companies are focusing on new and modern technologies to improve the product quality. The province aims to create favourable conditions to help processors purchase enough raw material for processing. In 2014, seafood exports are expected to increase by 0.5 percent year on year. To reach the target, besides new technologies, seafood companies need to focus investments in fishery production projects in order to ensure raw material for processing to export and meet demands and strict requirements from foreign markets.​