(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While Vietnam's tuna exports to major markets such as the U.S, the EU and Japan were on the downward trend in the first 3 months of this year, the figure to ASEAN showed the positive growth. The total export value of tuna to this market in QI/2016 reached US$10.3 million, up 19.5% from QI/2015.
Currently Vietnam's tuna was destined to most of ASEAN countries including Thailand, the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Cambodia and Laos. In particular, Thailand stayed as the biggest tuna importer from Vietnam, accounting for nearly 72% of total tuna export value to the ASEAN countries.
In 2016, ASEAN increased imports of most tuna products from Vietnam (excluding canned tuna). Of that, imports of live/fresh/frozen tuna posted a year-on-year rise of more than 62%, while tuna loins/fillets increased by 83% and other processed tuna was up 6.4%.
Out of these products, Vietnam mainly shifted other processed tuna products to the ASEAN countries, worth by nearly US$7 million, and making up 68% of total tuna export value to this market.
VIETNAM TUNA EXPORTS TO ASEAN
|
Markets
|
Value (US$)
|
Jan
|
Feb
|
Mar
|
Total
|
Thailand
|
2,855,809
|
1,924,122
|
2,571,444
|
7,351,376
|
The Philippines
|
1,032,172
|
679,311
|
325,087
|
2,036,570
|
Indonesia
|
248,463
|
43,350
|
114,999
|
406,812
|
Malaysia
|
60,525
|
31,836
|
204,183
|
296,544
|
Singapore
|
24
|
47,003
|
134,018
|
181,045
|
Cambodia
|
0
|
5,400
|
0
|
5,400
|
Laos
|
1,100
|
0
|
0
|
1,100
|
Total
|
4,198,092
|
2,731,023
|
3,349,731
|
10,278,846
|
VIETNAM TUNA EXPORTS TO ASEAN, QI/2016 (US$)
|
Products
|
QI/2015
|
QI/2016
|
Variation (%)
|
Tuna (HS code 16) (1)
|
6,680,902
|
7,033,855
|
5.3
|
Canned tuna (HS code 16)
|
119,820
|
52,679
|
-56.0
|
Other processed tuna (HS code 16)
|
6,561,082
|
6,981,176
|
6.4
|
Tuna (HS code 03) (2)
|
1,917,832
|
3,244,991
|
69.2
|
Live/fresh/frozen/dried tuna (HS code 03) (except for HS code 0304)
|
1,269,962
|
2,058,877
|
62.1
|
Tuna (HS code 0304) (except for surimi)
|
647,870
|
1,186,114
|
83.1
|
Total (1+2)
|
8,598,734
|
10,278,846
|
19.5
|
According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, other processed tuna products were mainly exported to Thailand, while fresh/frozen/live tuna products were mainly shifted to the Philippines and Indonesia.
In early 2016, these countries are also promoting imports of tuna from other countries (especially from China or from island nations such as Kiribati) to offset the decline in domestic supply of wild-caught tuna and meet their export orders.
So far, Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia are both competitors of Vietnam in ASEAN and the promising tuna importers from Vietnam thanks to favorable geographical location and their quality requirement that is not too strict.
Written by Nguyen Ha
Compiled by Dieu Thuy