(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In January 2020, pangasius exports to most markets decreased sharply year on year. In particular, pangasius export to the US market this month has surpassed China - Hong Kong to become the largest importer of Vietnam with an export value of US$ 18.1 million, accounting for 17.8% of the total export value of pangasius.
In 2019, the US-China trade war did not bring benefits for Vietnamese enterprises at US market as forecasted. The US continued to impose high antidumping duties. Futhermore, inspection catfish program that list Vietnam as a country eligible to export Siluriformes fish and fish products to the US was released later than the US statement.
Although tilapia imports into the US from China decreased significantly due to high import tax, this did not affect the proportion of pangasius in the country's seafood import structure.
In 2019, the value of pangasius exports to the US decreased in 11 consecutive months compared to the same period in 2018. Many businesses withdrew from this market due to difficulty in exports.
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Catfish importers of the US, Jan-Nov/2019
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Importers
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|
Kg
|
USD
|
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China
|
Frozen catfish (Ictalurus) fillets
|
3,582,707
|
18,022,730
|
|
Frozen catfish (Ictalurus)
|
21,956
|
58,080
|
|
Frozen pangasius fillets
|
618,588
|
3,002,468
|
|
Frozen other catifish (Siluriformes) fillets
|
19,731
|
92,793
|
|
Chilled catfish (Silurus, Clarias) fillets
|
19,731
|
116,580
|
|
Total
|
4.262.713
|
21,292,651
|
|
Taiwan
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Chilled catfish (Silurus, Clarias) fillets
|
33,256
|
174,343
|
|
Total
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33,256
|
174,343
|
|
Thailand
|
Frozen NSPF catfish fillets
|
7,140
|
14,832
|
|
Frozen NSPF catfish
|
4,182
|
18,947
|
|
Total
|
11.322
|
33,779
|
|
Vietnam
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Frozen pangasius fillets
|
48,397,504
|
193,142,334
|
|
Frozen pangasius
|
561,448
|
1,596,839
|
|
Frozen other catifish (Siluriformes) fillets
|
27,104,995
|
106,287,417
|
|
Frozen NSPF catfish fillets
|
23,950
|
106,128
|
|
Frozen NSPF catfish
|
22,970
|
64,484
|
|
Total
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76,110,867
|
301,197,202
|
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Total (Acummulated in the first 11 months of 2019)
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80,418,158
|
322,697,975
|
|
Imports total in 2018
|
121,086,824
|
546,550,622
|
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Source: US Department of Commerce
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Due to the impact of reduced import demand and domestic raw material prices, so the average export price of pangasius to the US market in 2019 also decreased, from US$ 4.73/kg at the beginning of the year to about US $2.85/kg.
About 30 enterprises exported pangasius to the US market in 2019, of which, the three largest enterprises were: VINH HOAN CORP, BIEN DONG SEAFOOD and VD FOOD LTD. At the end of 2019, the US's USDA officially announced the recognition of pangasius management and supervision system of Vietnam equivalent to that of the US, creating better conditions for exporters exports pangasius to the US.
According to the plan of the Food Safety and Inspection Department (FSIS) of the United States Department of Agriculture, in March 2020 (from 2nd -13th), FSIS's Food Safety Inspection Team will conduct the inspection, assessing the food safety and hygiene control system of pangasius farms, processing plants, food safety management agencies in the Mekong Delta. However, due to the complicated spread of the Covid-19 epidemic, the plan was postponed.
Due to the disruption of pangasius exports to Chinese market in the first months of 2020, Vietnam enterprises are working hard to seek and promote exports to new markets. The disease situation is affecting the trade of seafood, but it is also a good opportunity for businesses to enhance exports amid seafood consumption (including pangasius) is increasing sharply in the US as consumers are storing more food to cope with the disease situation.