Surge in Vietnam tuna exports to China

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Appearing in the top 10 largest tuna importers of Vietnam in the late 2015, China is regarded as a potential importing market of Vietnam tuna. In the first 3 months of this year, Vietnam's tuna exports to this market experienced a 3-digit growth, while those to others posted a year-on year decrease.

In 2015, China sourced tuna from 37 countries worldwide with the volume of over 89,000 MT, worth by US$126 million, up 1.3% in volume and down nearly 6% in value compared to 2014. Tuna imports from Vietnam in 2015 reached more than US$12.5 million, a year-on-year dive of nearly 20%.

However, in the early 2016, Vietnam’s tuna exports to China reported the strong growth. According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, the tuna sales in QI/2016 touched nearly US$7 million, up 253% compared to US$2 million in QI/2015. Thanks to this growth rate, China has surpassed Japan and ranked the 4th in the top 10 leading markets importing tuna from Vietnam.

In the early 2016, China increased imports of tuna fillets/loins from Vietnam on par with the same period last year. Exports of the items from Vietnam to China in QI/2016 registered a year-on-year hike of more than 372%, with nearly US$1.4 million. Meanwhile, exports of canned tuna gained US$383 thousand, down 35% from US$586 thousand in the same period last year.

TUNA IMPORTS INTO CHINA

Products

Value (Thousand US$)

Volume (MT)

2014

2015

Variation (%)

2014

2015

Variation (%)

Fresh/live/frozen tuna (HS code 03, except for 0304)

119,488

114,072

-4.5

85,368

86,517

1.3

Tuna fillets/lions (HS code 0304)

1,228

469

-61.8

59

42

-28.8

Processed tuna (HS code 16)

12,919

11,513

-10.9

2,691

2,688

-0.1

According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), in recent years, while imports of processed/canned tuna (HS code 16) into China were on the downward trend, imports fresh/live/frozen tuna (HS code 03) recorded the rise.

A soar in Vietnam's tuna exports to China was driven by difficulties in exports to major importing markets (the U.S., the EU and Japan) that forced Vietnamese enterprises to shift to new and potential market of China. Besides, demand for tuna consumed in China and for producing and re-exporting to Europe by the local companies went up.

In the coming time, China stays as a promising market of Vietnam tuna.

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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