Vietnam’s exports of tra and basa catfish seemed to be prospering with a series of good news from such huge markets like the U.S., Russia and EU.
On March 9, 2009, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) recognized two additional Vietnamese companies not to dump catfish to its market, raising the total number of this kind to six.
Accordingly, Vietnam expected catfish export to the U.S. to rise as the companies will enjoy taxes between 0 per cent and 0.52 per cent when exporting the catfish to this market.
Russia has also agreed to resume import of seafood from Vietnam, including 7,000 tons of tra catfish in 2009.
Meanwhile, Spain, one of the biggest consumers of Vietnamese catfish in EU bloc, has recognized Vietnamese catfish safety and Brazil, a potential partner in Latin America, has allowed 60 Vietnamese companies to directly export seafood to the country.
Vietnam was estimated to have exported 71,300 tons of catfish worth US$162.9 million in the first two months of 2009, down 2.1 per cent on year in volume and 1.5 per cent in value.
Biggest importers included Spain, Germany and the U.S. with US$18.5 million; US$15.4 million and US$14.5 million, respectively.
Catfish export to the U.S. market hit highest growth rates with 160.9 per cent in volume (4,560 tons) and 183.6 per cent in value (US$14.524 million), with average price rising from US$2.808/kilogram in 2008 to US$3.16/kilo.
Meanwhile, EU bloc imported 28,393 tons worth US$69.88 million, up 2.2 per cent in volume and 1.1 per cent in value against the first two months of 2008. Averaged export price to EU was US$2.46/kilo, down by 10 US cent per kilo from 2008.
As of March 6, 2009, catfish breeding area in Mekong Delta provinces was 4,304 hectares, up 413 hectares from a month earlier.
The fish is now offered at VND14,300-VND16,500/kilo.
In 2008, Vietnam exported 640,829 tons of tra catfish worth US$1.453 billion to 126 countries and territories, accounting for 51.8 per cent of its total seafood export volume and 32.2 per cent of seafood value. The figures showed on year rises of 65.6 per cent in volume and 48.4 per cent in value against 2007. (Vietnam Economic Times)
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