(vasep.com.vn) The US is Vietnam's tuna leading importing market. After declines in H2/2014, the market finds its rebound.
As of mid-June 2015, tuna exports to the US rose to US$ 85.5 million, up 11.3% from the same period last year. Significant increases in tuna exports to the US offset the decline in some other markets.
According to the International Trade Centre (ITC), in first 5 months of 2015, top 5 tuna exporters of the US were Thailand, Indonessia, Vietnam, Indonesia and Ecuador. The period witnessed decreases in both volume and value from Thailand and the Philippines whereas imports from Vietnam, Indonesia and Ecuador rose dramatically. Thailand sent 38 thousand MT of tuna to the US and earned US$ 164.3 million, remaining its postion as the biggest tuna supplier, although imports fell by 11% in terms of value and decreased by 10% by volume. Ranked the third, Vietnam sold 8,486 MT of tuna (up 3%) with revenue of US$ 51.9 million (up 10%).
The year 2015 is predicted to be a difficult year for Thai tuna industry with the EU's 'yellow card' for IUU violations. It is not until October that the EU announce level of IUU compliance to decide whether to ban imports from this country or not. Meanwhile, Thai seafood industry faces difficulties due to US reports of human trafficking. This is also the main reason why tuna exports from Thailand to the US declined.
The Philippines boosted tuna exports to the EU, therefore, exports to the US fell. In fact, tuna exports from the Philippines to the US in the first 5 months of 2015 fell by 3% by volume and 8% by value comparing to the same period of 2014.
Currently, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines are major suppliers for processed/ preserved and canned tuna to the US.
