The European Union is objecting to the generalized scheme of preferences (GSP) status on the basis of Maldives’ attitude towards religious freedom and discrimination against women, reports Atuna.

(vasep.com.vn) In the first four months of 2013, An Giang, a province in Mekong Delta, exported 50.2 thousand MT of seafood products to generate US$116.8 million, up 14 percent in volume and 92 percent in value over the compatible period of 2012, according to local Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. The average export price was US$2,320 per MT.

(pangasius-vietnam.com) In the first half of September 2013, Vietnam pangasius exports to the EU had worth of US$13.2 million, up 3.4 percent against the same time of 2012. If the figure keeps increasing in the second half, September is the third month that pangasius see growth in sales to European market. The two biggest single markets were Spain (up 12.2 percent to US$2.1 million) and the Netherlands (up 4.6 percent to US$1.9 million).

(vasep.com.vn) Tuna catching and processing sector has not been developed in Germany while local consumers’ demand for finfish, particularly processed fish products is increasingly high. Therefore, canned tuna imports into Germany are on the upward trend.

Industry expert says buyers better get used to skyrocketing shrimp prices. The shrimp shortage resulting from the spread of Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS) across Asia is set to last at least a couple of years, "maybe longer" according to Matthew Biggs, an aquaculture consultant for Ridley Aquafeed with more than a decade of experience in the southeast Asian shrimp industry.

(vasep.com.vn) In the first 4 months of 2013, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached over US$619 million, representing an increase of 0.8 percent over the same period of 2012. Therefore, shrimp shipment to some main markets showed a recovery.

Fresh and frozen tuna dominated the exports of eight types of fishery commodities from Bali in value, Teneng said. Tuna exports, fresh and frozen, totaled 5,114 tons valued at USD 28.36 million (RM92.96 million) in the January-May period, he noted.

Australian fish farmers and Japanese importers have agreed on a price of 1,350 yen per kilogram for southern bluefin tuna, down 20% from a year ago, reflecting soft demand.

(vasep.com.vn) Many Vietnamese tuna exporters are currently facing difficulties due to lack of raw material for processing. Since the beginning of 2013, domestic landings of ocean tuna have decreased sharply.

Demand for canned tuna worldwide is likely to remain rather flat, despite the likelihood that prices will increase, according to Globefish’s May 2013 tuna report.

Between 1 January and 30 May, 2013 Argentinean maritime ports received a total of 314,733.9 tonnes of fishing resources. This figure shows a 4.2 per cent rise compared to the cumulative volume between the first day of 2012 and 31 May of that year, when 301,771.1 tonnes were landed.

(seafood.com) Despite growth in export volumes, the Chilean fishmeal industry has reported a decline in export values through July 2012 due to falling prices.

Chilean salmon exports to the US continued to surge through October 2012 as the total export value also declined.

Exports of fishery products and aquaculture in Chile reached in the first 10 months of 2012 a value of USD 3,806.6 million. This represents an increase of 1 per cent over the same period in 2011, when they totalled USD 3,770.7 million.

Chilean mussel export volumes and values have improved in 2013 compared to year ago levels according to recent data from InfoTrade.