vasep.com.vn) In the first 9 months of 2014, Vietnam seafood exports hit US$5.8 billion, up 21 percent year on year. Sales in QIII/2014 were US$2.2 billion, up 15 percent.
Exports of main seafood items reported two-digit growth (13-42 percent), except for tuna exports (down 12.5 percent). Amid lack of global supply of raw material caused by Early Mortality Syndrome (EMS), Vietnam’s shrimp sales reported the sharpest growth and took the largest proportion thanks to rise in shrimp production and raw shrimp imports
Shrimp
Shrimp reported the highest export growth rate of 42 percent and reached US$2.9 billion in its sales, occupying the highest proportion of 50.6 percent in Vietnam’s total seafood exports.
Whiteleg shrimp dominated the shrimp exports with 58 percent, reaching the value of US$1.7 billion, up 75 percent
while black tiger sales were US$1.3 billion, rising 10 percent and making up 35 percent.
Shrimp exports to main markets showed robust growth: to the U.S. (up 51 percent), EU (up 88 percent), Japan (up 7 percent), China (up 28 percent)
Pangasius
Pangasius exports reached US$1.3 billion, up 0.2 percent and making up 22 percent of total seafood exports.
Fish exports started to recover in June and reported the gradual growth in QIII/2014: July up 9 percent, August up 1.2 percent and September up 10 percent.
Fish exports to two main markets (EU and the U.S.) downed 8.4 percent and 16.7 percent, respectively. Exports to other markets reported positive growth. Fish exports to the U.S. started to recover in September with rise in average export price.
Cephalopod
Cephalopod exports soared 13 percent to US$351 million, accounting for 7.1 percent of the total fish exports. In which squid exports reached US$205 million, making up 58.5 percent and octopus sales were US$146 million, making up 41.5 percent.
Cephalopod exports reported two-digit growth (10-36 percent) in each month of QIII/2014.
Shipment to main markets hiked: South Korea up 31.5 percent, EU up 15 percent, ASEAN up 25 percent, except for Japan down 5.4 percent. The surge is thanks to rising demand from import markets.
Tuna
Tuna exports achieved US$363 million, down 12.5 percent year on year.Sales of frozen tuna (HS code 03) hit US$194 million, representing 53 percent while exports of canned, processed tuna (HS code 16) touched US$169 million, representing 47 percent.
Exports to most of major markets shrank: the U.S. down 13 percent, EU down 5 percent, ASEAN down 12 percent and Japan down 49 percent. Exports to Israel up 30 percent and to Lebanon up 16 percent.
There have been no improvement in quality of post-harvest tuna, lowering export volume of high-quality tuna (fresh tuna for sashimi processing)
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