(vasep.com.vn) In the first 8 months of 2014, seafood exports reached US$ 5.08 billion, up 22.2% year on year, thanks to shrimp sales. Shrimp exports was US$ 2.56 billion, up 48.3% year on year.
It is hoped that efforts to boost exports would be acknowledged as the goal of US$ 7 billion will be exceeded soon. High export prices and increased import orders forced this growth.
SHRIMP
Through August 2014, shrimp exports accounted 50.4% of total seafood export turnover, up 8.83% compared to the same period in 2013. The equal proportion (46%) of whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp in total shrimp export structure was replaced by the fact that whiteleg shrimp accounted for 58.6% and tiger shrimp dropped to 35%.
Due to EMS, major global shrimp suppliers such as Thailand and China slowly grew. Combined with high prices, this helped Vietnam, Ecuador, Indonesia and India become important suppliers. Seizing this opportunity, Vietnam actively maintains black tiger shrimp farming area, and increased area for whiteleg shrimp by 245.3% (as of the end of July 2014). Shrimp harvest increased sharply, black tiger shrimp production increased by 91% while whiteleg shrimp grew by 449.4% year on year.
Increasing demand in the US drove higher market price for shrimp from India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam. In the first half of this year, the average price of shrimp imported into the United States increased by 35% year on year. Thus, the first 8 months of this year saw positive results of shrimp exports to the US.
Shrimp exports to the Japan found its growth thanks to frozen import by the country increased by 20%. By the end of August 2014, shrimp exports to Japan increased by 5.2%, to EU increased by 96.2%, to China increased by 32.4% and to South Korea also increased by 99.6%.
PANGASIUS
Through 8/2014, pangasius export value decreased by 1% year on year. Exports to EU and the US, the 2 largest export markets, dropped by 7.3% and 19.6% respectively.These markets, accounted for 45.6% of total export value in 2013, now make up for 39.7%. The decrease in 2 main export markets made pangasius exporters shift to smaller markets, ASEAN and Brazil. It is noticed that in the first 8 months of 2014, pangasius exporters tried their utmost to export to ASEAN and Brazil to compensate the deficiency in EU and the US. Export value was relatively stable but growth reported was negative 1%.
TUNA AND MARINE FISH
In the first 8 months of the 2014, tuna exports fell by 13.4% while other marine rose moderately. Fish exports increased by 18%; mollusks increased by 13%; crabs and other crustaceans increased by 20.8% compared to the same period last year. However, due to lack of raw material and competitions, all year growth rate would not be much higher than that of 2013.
IMPORTING RAW MATERIALS
Factories actively seeked for raw materials. In 2013, exporters were forced to increase raw material imports for their process. The total import turnover this year is expected to reach US$ 720 million, up 10%. Imports of fish (primarily salmon) accounted for 35.77%, followed by 32.8% from shrimp and tuna accounted for 22.2% of total import value. Last year, due to EMS, local processors boosted shrimp import from other countries, in which, India alone accounted for 66.3% of total shrimp import value.