(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While tuna exports from Vietnam to Germany and the Netherlands decreased, tuna exports to Spain increased dramatically, making Spain the largest tuna importing market of Vietnam in the EU. Tuna export value to this market in September impressively increased by 336%, bringing the total export value in the first nine months to nearly US$20 million, increasing by 75% over the same period.
However, compared with the same period last year, Spain's imports of tuna from other countries did not increase much. According to Eurostat statistics, in the first seven months of this year, Spain's tuna imports increased only 0.1% in volume and 13% in value. Processed canned tuna and frozen yellowfin tuna continues to be the main products of Spain.
Ecuador is currently the largest supplier of tuna to the Spanish market, accounting for 21% of the market share, followed by China and the Philippines with the market share of 11% and 6% respectively. Vietnam is currently the 14th largest supplier, accounting for just under 1%.
This year, Spain's tuna imports from Ecuador fell, due to the limited supply. In addition, because of the application of tariff quotas of 25,000 for tuna fillets in the early months of this year, Spain is increasing the imports of this product from China and Vietnam.
For canned tuna products (Hs code 16), Vietnam have difficulties to compete with the 20.5% import tax rate, while Ecuador has the advantage of zero tariffs, which makes it the largest supplier in Spain. Vietnam ranks 15th, under both China and the Philippines. China is subject to a 24% tax rate higher than Vietnam, while the Philippines enjoys a 0% tax rate.
For frozen tuna fillet products for the Spanish market, Vietnam is the third largest supplier, however, with a 14.5% import tax rate, Vietnam has no advantage over Mexico and Ecuador, as the two countries are enjoying a 0% tax rate and becoming the leading the export of frozen tuna fillets to Spain.
TUNA IMPORTS TO SPAIN
|
Suppliers
|
Value (thousand US$)
|
Volume (MT)
|
M1-7/2017
|
M1-8/2018
|
Variation (%)
|
M1-7/2017
|
M1-8/2018
|
Variation (%)
|
Ecuador
|
199,952
|
169,688
|
-15.1
|
42,047
|
32,499
|
-22.7
|
China
|
47,955
|
91,650
|
91.1
|
12,005
|
17,390
|
44.9
|
Philippines
|
31,397
|
48,272
|
53.7
|
9,722
|
12,958
|
33.3
|
Mauritius
|
33,950
|
47,185
|
39.0
|
7,569
|
10,728
|
41.7
|
Papua New Guinea
|
31,827
|
46,096
|
44.8
|
7,345
|
8,449
|
15.0
|
Seychelles
|
27,639
|
37,302
|
35.0
|
11,806
|
17,764
|
50.5
|
El Salvador
|
41,014
|
36,833
|
-10.2
|
16,210
|
8,161
|
-49.7
|
Guatemala
|
47,446
|
36,667
|
-22.7
|
14,750
|
10,937
|
-25.8
|
Mexico
|
21,356
|
34,262
|
60.4
|
5,942
|
7,166
|
20.6
|
Cabo Verde
|
15,166
|
23,163
|
52.7
|
5,561
|
8,060
|
44.9
|
Korea
|
12,918
|
19,856
|
53.7
|
4,389
|
6,457
|
47.1
|
Curaçao
|
13,737
|
17,357
|
26.4
|
7,256
|
8,915
|
22.9
|
Indonesia
|
11,692
|
15,992
|
36.8
|
3,820
|
3,142
|
-17.8
|
Vietnam
|
9,954
|
11,099
|
11.5
|
2,823
|
2,106
|
-25.4
|
Others
|
160,650
|
159,764
|
-0.6
|
52,436
|
49,218
|
-6.1
|
Total
|
706,653
|
795,186
|
12.5
|
203,681
|
203,950
|
0.1
|
(Source: ITC)
|