(vasep.com.vn) In February 2014, Vietnamese exports of agricultural, forestry and fishery products are estimated to reach US$2.08 billion, leading exports in the first two months of the year to increase by 9.4 percent year on year to US$4.33 billion, according to Vietnam Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).
This year, seafood continues to be the key export item of Vietnamese agricultural sector with an estimated export revenue of US$335 million in February.
In the first 2 months of the year, seafood sales brought back US$919 million, up 23.5 percent year on year, while earnings from agricultural exports were down 20.5 percent to US$1.73 billion,
The U.S. remains the leading seafood importer of Vietnam, representing 26.67 percent in total export value. In January 2014, this market sourced US$155.6 million of seafood products, up 89 percent year on year.
Shipments to Japan, Korea, and Australia also got considerable growth of 31.45 percent, 29.27 percent and 17.85 percent, respectively. Some other countries saw drop like China (-37.79 percent) and Thailand (-7 percent).
Raw material imports keep hiking
Besides, imports of raw material into the country reported a sharp increase. In February, import value of seafood is estimated to be US$85 million. The two-month figure totaled US$185 million, up 115.5 percent against the same period of last year.
Marine fish landings up, farmed fish production down
According to MARD, Vietnam’s fish production in February this year is estimated to reach 369.7 thousand MT, up 4 percent year on year. The figure in the first two months of the year is estimated to reach 768.8 thousand MT, up 2.3 percent year on year.
Aquaculture output hit 323.6 thousand MT, down 0.3 percent. Capture output registered 445.2 thousand MT, up 4.3 percent in which marine catch jumped by 4.7 percent to 419.4 thousand MT.
Aquaculture production in February is gauged to be 140.8 thousand MT, down 1.5 percent year on year.
Pangasius farmers continue to meet difficulties due to lower raw fish price and decreased output. Prices of raw fish has not increased from the previous month so farmers has no interest in keeping the fish farms, leading to decreased farming areas and production.
Farming shrimp and other aquatic species witnessed stability. The provinces in the country are stocking whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp under innovated extensive model and preparing ponds for new crop of black tiger shrimp.
The capture production hit 228.9 thousand MT in February, up 7.8 percent year on year, of which marine catch increased by 8.6 percent to 215.3 thousand MT.
Some provinces caught high volume of fish such as Kien Giang of 73,790 MT, Ninh Thuan 33,500 MT, 17,200 MT of Binh Thuan, Vung Tau 43,183 MT, Bac Lieu 17,914 MT and 28,500 MT of Ca Mau.