(VASEPNews) In the first two months of 2012, Vietnam cephalopod export value reported a positive growth of 18.5 percent while bivalve mollusk exports decreased by 25.2 percent compared to those of the same period of 2011. According to Vietnam Customs, cephalopod exports of the country in Jan-Feb 2012 touched nearly US$67 million, in which shipment to two largest importers (South Korea and Japan) accounted for over 60 percent of total cephalopod export value.
Cephalopod exports to these two markets in Feb 2012 fell over those of the previous month but witnessed a strong growth of 84.4 percent and 157.8 percent, respectively compared to the same period of 2011.
In Jan-Feb 2012, cephalopod export value to South Korea and Japan remained double digit growth of 15.9 percent and 41.5 percent, respectively from Jan-Feb 2011. In contrast, bivalve mollusk exports to South Korea and Japan saw a reduction of 46.5 percent and 56.8 percent.
EU is considered as a potential and important importer of Vietnam seafood, particularly cephalopod regardless of strict regulations on importing to the market. In Feb 2012 alone, cephalopod export value to EU hit US$6.4 million, up 59.8 percent from Feb 2011. This brings total export value of cephalopod in Jan-Feb 2012 to US$14 million, up 4.5 percent over that of Jan-Feb 2011. Besides, bivalve shipment to the market in Feb this year reached US$3.7 million, representing a 15.3 percent increase from Feb last year.