ASEAN: The 3rd largest importer of Vietnam’s tuna

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) ASEAN currently held as the 4th largest tuna importer in the world, and the market ranked the 3rd out of top largest tuna buyer from Vietnam. According to statistics of the International Trade Centre (ITC), as of Oct 2016, tuna imports into ASEAN countries reached US$1.3 billion, up 25% compared to the same period of 2015.

After a decline in QI/2016, tuna imports into ASEAN rebounded over the same period last year. Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia were top 3 leading tuna importers in ASEAN. However, while tuna imports into Thailand and the Philippines went up 24.8% and 0.1%, respectively, those into Malaysia dropped by 8.1% year on year.

In the first 10 months of 2016, ASEAN increased imports of tuna from countries. In particular, Taiwan, Papua New Guinea and China were the three largest suppliers of tuna to this market. Vietnam currently ranked the 11th largest tuna seller to ASEAN.

TUNA IMPORTS INTO ASEAN BY MARKETS (Thousand US$)

Suppliers

Jan-Oct 2016

Jan-Oct 2015

Variation (%)

Taiwan

226,902

189,911

19.5

Papua New Guinea

173,638

78,616

120.9

China

148,254

131,307

12.9

South Korea

129,773

74,181

74.9

US

103,245

82,121

25.7

Kiribati

78,824

61,837

27.5

Indonesia

49,209

72,686

-32.3

Japan

46,407

69,567

-33.3

Micronesia

40,538

12,238

231.2

Marshall Islands

36,206

19,298

87.6

Spain

33,326

15,384

116.6

Vietnam

31,962

28,006

14.1

Others

1,098,284

835,152

31.5

Total

1,267,187

1,009,971

25.5

Source: ITC

According to statistics of General Department of Vietnam Customs, in Jan-Nov 2016, Vietnam's tuna exports to ASEAN achieved US$41 million, up 16% year on year, representing 8.9% of Vietnam’s tuna export value. Thailand was currently the largest importer of Vietnam’s tuna in the region.

In 2016, Vietnam’s tuna sales to ASEAN climbed up, except for canned tuna. Of that, exports of Vietnam’s other processed tuna to ASEAN took up the largest share, mostly to Thailand. Meanwhile, exports of fresh/live/frozen tuna (HS code 03) mainly shifted to the Philippines.

Tuna imports into ASEAN next year forecasted to be on the rise.

Written by Nguyen Ha

Compiled by Dieu Thuy  


SPECIALIST ON TUNA MARKET

Ms Van Ha

Email: vanha@vasep.com.vn

Tel: +84 24 37715055 (ext. 216)

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