The export of agro-forestry-fishery products to Japan is forecast to continue thriving in 2024 as numerous export opportunities are in place.

As many as 22 Vietnamese enterprises are showcasing their products at Foodex Japan 2024, one of the largest international food and beverage exhibitions in Asia, which kicked off in Tokyo, Japan on March 5.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports in February 2024 were estimated at 564 million USD, down 8% over the same period last year. This decline is still a positive number because February this year coincided with Lunar New Year holiday in Vietnam. Accumulated in the first 2 months of the year, seafood exports reached over 1.3 billion USD, up 23% over the same period in 2023.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Since the 10th day of Lunar New Year, many businesses have officially resumed operations and are starting to export goods.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2023, tuna exports to the Middle East were unstable, and tended to decrease compared to 2022. According to statistics of Vietnam Customs, Vietnam's tuna exports to this market decreased by 130% in 2023, reaching 82 million USD.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After the Lunar New Year, commercial pangasius production increased, prices increased. Many farmers take advantage of harvesting farming ponds to sell for high profits.

An additional 99 aquaculture establishments were licensed to export to the Republic of Korea (RoK), the European Union, China, the US and Russia in 2023, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s National Authority for Agro-Forestry-Fishery Quality, Processing and Market Development (NAFIQPM).

Vietnam aims to produce 1.7 million tonnes of commercial tra fish (pangasius) and earn 2 billion USD from exporting the products in 2024, according to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2023, Vietnam's exports of shell mollusk products reached 127 million USD, down 12%. Vietnam's main exported shell mollusks include clams, accounting for 62% of export value, snails, accounting for 12%, oysters, accounting for 11%, and scallops, accounting for nearly 9%. In addition, some species with modest export value includes oysters, baby clams, abalone, and mussels.

More challenges are expected for Vietnam’s aquaculture exports in 2024, according to Tran Dinh Luan, General Director of the Department of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 5 years after the CPTPP Free Trade Agreement took effect (14 Jan 2019), Vietnam seafood industry has seen many positive changes thanks to the preferential tariffs with member countries, however, challenges that affect export growth in this bloc still persist.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 14, 2023, the Ministry of Industry and Trade issued Decision No. 3235/QD-BCT approving and announcing the List of "Reputable Export Enterprises" in 2022. Accordingly, there are 46 seafood processing and exporting enterprises on this list

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2023, Vietnam's fish paste and surimi export turnover was estimated at 303 million USD, down 27% compared to 2022. In the past five years, Vietnam's fish paste and surimi industry earned from 300-420 million USD each year, including surimi from marine fish and pangasius, accounting for 4%-5% of the country's total seafood exports.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of An Giang, the implementation of the 3-level pangasius breeding production project in the Mekong Delta in An Giang currently has investments from 4 enterprises in technology-oriented farming in a high-concentration area of 442.3 ha. Among which, Viet Uc Seafood Corporation has invested 104 ha; Nam Viet Binh Phu Seafood Company Limited has invested 600 ha (including 150 ha for breeding); Loc Kim Chi Development Company Limited with 140 ha; and Vinh Hoan Joint Stock Company with 48.3 ha. These projects are currently underway and put into production, contributing to improving pangasius seed quality in An Giang province.

(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2023, high inflation, reduced demand, high inventories, falling export prices and difficulties in domestic production leading to a 17% decrease in Vietnam seafood exports compared to 2022, reaching only 9 billion USD.