(vasep.com.vn) Representatives from about 40 enterprises of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) took part in the 2012 European Seafood Exposition (ESE) in Brussels, Belgium, in April 24th to 26th. The biggest annual seafood fair in Europe attracts nearly 1,600 seafood producers, processors and consumers from 70 countries all over the world. Besides seafood products, machines, equipments and services are also presented in ESE.
As of March 15th 2012, Vietnam seafood exports to Europe reached US$200.6 million, a decrease of 8 percent compared to the same period last year. Europe is considered one of Vietnam’s key seafood importing markets, accounting for nearly 20 percent of the total seafood exports. At this time, Vietnam shrimp and pangasius export value and volume to the market saw a decrease while tuna, cephalopod and bivalve mollusk were strongly consumed in EU.
HAI NAM Co.,Ltd.-one of major Vietnam exporters of dried seafood and marine finfish-joins in ESE this year with many frozen finfish and dried fish products. The company expects to meet old customers and look for new partners. EU makes up 70 percent of its seafood export proportion. This is hereby a chance for the company to boost its business relationship with European partners, the company said.
According to Vietnam tuna exporters, despite fiscal challenges in European countries, they remained receiving tuna orders from EU due to high demand and low tuna production worldwide.
Pangasius exports to EU are less favourable than that to the U.S. because EU market’s payment was slow and the export price was low.
Therefore, the number of Vietnam pangasius exporters joining ESE this year will be less than in Boston Seafood Exposition (the U.S.) held in last March. Many past years, EU is the third largest importing market of Vietnam shrimp, following Japan and the U.S. In 2011, some economies in the block faced to troubles but shrimp exports of Vietnam to EU still kept strong growth.
At 2012 ESE, the Seafood Prix d’Elite New Products Awards are presented for Best Product in order to recognize the best new seafood products of the year. Besides, awards are also presented for Best Retail Product and Best Foodservice Product. Special awards are also given at the judges’ discretion in the categories of Convenience, Nutrition and Health, Retail Packaging, Originality, and Best Seafood Product Line. This year’s awards ceremony will be presented at the opening day of ESE.
All exhibitors and visitors are invited to attend. The winners will also be on display at the Exposition. Among Vietnam seafood exporters joining ESE last year, Vinh Hoan Corp. was an only Vietnam exporter who won the Seafood Prix d’Elite New Products Awards for its pangasius products at ESE. However, this year, the company does not have any product joining Seafood Prix d’Elite New Products competition because it plans to introduce its value-added pangasius products winning 2009 – 2011 prize such as provocake, pangasius rolled with salmon, barramundi flame grill, seafood harmony. Moreover, the company also exhibits “Pangasius Sausage” product which is being consumed at the U.S. market. The product will be added special flavour, suitable to the Western people’s taste.
At 2012 ESE, there are 25 Vietnam enterprises having their private booths and 13 enterprises joining VASEP booth. Most of Vietnam exhibitors are ready to attend ESE this year. This is a good opportunity for Vietnam enterprises to look for partners, sign producing, processing and consuming contracts despite gloomy European economy.