(vasep.com.vn) The U.S. is the largest importer of Vietnam seafood, accounting for 22 percent of the country's total seafood exports, according to Ministry of Industry and Trade.
Shrimp, pangasius, tuna and crab are main items exported from Vietnam to the U.S.
In the early 2014, the exports of almost seafood products excluding shrimp from Vietnam to markets saw the reduction. However, main items exported to the U.S. inched up in which shrimp and pangasius (making up 80 percent of total seafood exports) reported a drastic increase of 163 percent and 44.6 percent, respectively.
Out of top 3 largest importers of Vietnam seafood (the U.S., EU, Japan), the U.S. reported the sharpest growth in importing seafood from Vietnam in 2013 and early 2014. Vietnam seafood shipment to the market was up 27.4 percent in 2013 and 87.8 percent in January 2014 which contributed to raising total seafood exports with the growth of 9.6 percent in 2013 and 19.9 percent in January 2014.
The growth in Vietnam's seafood exports to the market were mainly attributable to sharp increase in shrimp exports and the U.S.'s economic recovery in 2013 and early 2014. However, Vietnam exporters are facing with trade dispute from the market on two main export items (shrimp and pangasius).