(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam pangasius industry will stop boosting production and farming areas in 2013, according to Vu Van Tam – Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Ministry at the conference on pangasius production and consumption in Mekong Delta to wrap up the industry’s activities in 2012 and undertake new plans for 2013.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, decline in export value was seen in most main markets of Vietnam pangasius. However, the fish shipment to Egypt has kept growth and is hoped to increase in 2013 as the country still showed high demand for pangasius products.

(vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs, in 2012, fish imports into Vietnam gained US$655 million, up 21 percent compared to 2011. Due to lack of domestic supply of raw material, Vietnam continued to boost imports of raw seafood processing and exporting to meet orders.

Surimi producers are bracing themselves for another difficult year:

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam seafood exports in January 2013 reached US$486.7 million, up 34.1% over the same month of 2012. Shipment to main markets recorded a double to triple digit growth with the largest growth of 111% to ASEAN. It was followed by China and Hong Kong with a rise of 97%, Brazil 89% and Australia 84.5%. Exports to others increased by 15 – 20%, except for Russia with negative growth of 40%.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, seafood exports to South Korea reached US$509 million, up 6.5 percent from 2011. The market took the proportion of 8.3 percent out of Vietnam’s total seafood exports.

Hundreds of fishing boats in central provinces each hauled in a wealth of dong in the first weeks of February by making use of favourable weather conditions and modern tools to boost offshore fishing.

(vasep.com.vn) In 2012, Vietnam seafood exports to the market generated US$1.10 billion, up 9.3 percent against 2011. Japan is the largest importer of Vietnam shrimp but in 2012, the market imposed Ethoxyquin inspection on shrimp originated from the country. As a result, seafood exports to the market fell down in the late year.

Total aquatic trade value in 2012 is estimated at $27 billion, up four percent over $25.8 billion in 2011.

French tuna canners are urging retailers to raise the retail price of their products, and if the demands aren’t met, they will be less likely to invest in sustainable fishing due to lower profits, says Pierre Commere, director of Adepale, the country’s association of processors.

The Government of Equatorial Guinea Thursday expressed its intention to continue talks with the European Union (EU) in order to reach a new agreement that will renew the previous accord dated 2001.

Prices for Norwegian salmon hiked 34 percent to NOK 33.35 (€4.50/$6) in the second week of January, compared to NOK 24.92 (€3.30/$4.50) in the same period last year, according to Nordea's weekly salmon update, indicating a "very strong underlying market."

The latest Seafood Intelligence Report from analysts at Marko Partners shows cod imports from key Southern European countries fell sharply during the first 10 months of 2012, with Spain showing a whopping 17.4 percent decline in imports.

The US shrimp industry seems to operate under the following theory _ if they do the same thing, over and over, the result will eventually be pleasantly rewarding. Twice since 2004, the industry has pressured trade officials to investigate the "dumping" of frozen shrimp from Thailand, the biggest supplier of shrimp to the US. Twice they were defeated. But the persistent protectionists are at it again, hoping once again for a different result and a better life financed by huge fines against Thailand.

The forecast for the global shrimp industry this year is cloudy at best. “Grim” is the best word to describe the shrimp panel at the National Fisheries Institute’s (NFI) Global Seafood Market Conference in Santa Monica, Calif. last week.