Vietnam squid and octopus exports up 31.8 percent

In the first 9 months of 2011, Vietnam squid and octopus export value was up 31.8 percent compared to the same period of 2010. Cephalopod export value to main markets is all higher: South Korea up nearly 54 percent, EU 31 percent, Japan 16.4 percent, ASEAN 38.7 percent, Taiwan nearly 15 percent.

During this time, South Korea is the top importer of Vietnam squid and octopus, accounting for one third of the total cephalopod export value of Vietnam with the continuously high and stable growth. In February and April 2011, cephalopod export volume to South Korea dropped 22 percent and 15 percent, respectively from that of the same period of 2010 but export value still rose more than 11 percent and more than 8 percent. In the other months in the period, cephalopod export value to South Korea reached the double digit growth.

So far, Vietnam has been the biggest frozen squid supplier for South Korea, followed by Chile, Peru, China while Vietnam has been the second octopus exporter, representing over 40 percent of market share in South Korea. 

In the period of Jan - Sep 2011, Vietnam cephalopod exports to Russia sharply increased. In April 2011, cephalopod exports to Russia were up more than 750 percent in volume and over 1,000 percent in value from those of the same period last year. In Jan - Sep 2011, cephalopod export value to Russia was still up 180 percent, the export price to this market increased but lower than that to other markets.

In contrast, in March 2011, Vietnam bivalve mollusk exports slowed down both in volume and value from those of the same month of 2010. Six following months, in term of bivalve mollusk export value, it went down more deeply than export volume compared to the same period of 2010.

In Jan - Sep 2011, bivalve mollusk export value edged down 8.6 percent from that of Jan - Sep 2010. The bivalve mollusk is the only and main item with the reduction both in export volume and value.

According to bivalve mollusk exporters (particularly clam exporters), in the first 9 months 2011, mollusk exports to EU (the largest importers of Vietnam mollusk) is not good with low export price. Mollusk exports to other markets (Japan, China-Hong Kong, ASEAN, South Korea) showed a continuous reduction both in volume and value from those of the same period of 2010.

In Jan - Sep 2011, bivalve mollusk exports to Russia edged up stably and positively, export value to the U.S. up over 29 percent and Canada up over 30 percent over that of the same period of 2010.