VASEP: Vietnam Pins Hope in Catfish Exports amid Global Turmoil
Vietnam has more opportunities in exporting tra and basa catfish to large markets as consumers are turning to cheaper food in the context of economic downturn, said the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).
VASEP said that the country’s tra and basa catfish exports to the U.S. rose 31 per cent in March and rocketed 131 per cent in the first quarter of this year.
Catfish exports to Egypt also jumped 54.5 per cent on month in March and 48 per cent over the same period last year.
Russia has also allowed to resume import of Vietnamese catfish, paying the way for Vietnamese exporters to raise its market share in the country that import 1 million tons of seafood annually.
The catfish, considered the best substitute for high-cost white meat fish in the world market, is facing not a few barriers and severe competition in these potential markets, the VASEP said.
It proposed Vietnamese exporters strictly comply with current regulations and enhance quality control in order to sustain their export markets.
Vietnam expected to reap US$1 billion from catfish export in 2009, down from US$1.48 billion in 2008 as many farmers left their ponds since late last year.
In the first four months, the country reaped US$265 million from shipping 116,600 tons of catfish, up 1.5 per cent on year.
The country now has 100 catfish processing plants with total capacity of 1.5 million tons yearly. (VoV)
Vietnamese
