Vietnam Becomes the US's Largest Yellow-Fin Tuna Supplier

Vietnam Becomes the US's Largest Yellow-Fin Tuna Supplier

Vietnam has become the largest exporter of yellow-fin tuna to the US, accounting for over a quarter of its total imports, said officials from the Ministry of Fisheries.

As many as 1,544 tons of frozen yellow-fin tuna were exported to the US by April-end, raking in revenue of US US$11 million, up 42.5 per cent in volume and 47.6 per cent in value on-year, according to statistics from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The exports reportedly made up for 28.6 per cent of the US’s total import of the fish.

Vietnam is currently followed by Trinidad, with 684 tons worth US US$5 million, and farther by the Philippines, Brazil, Costa Rica, Fiji, Mexico, Grenada and Sri Lanka.

The country now exports tuna to 40 markets, including the US, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Israel and Germany, according to the ministry. The ministry has also assigned priority for development of off-shore tuna fishing.

In 2004, Vietnam exported 2,217 tons of fresh and frozen yellow-fin tuna to the US worth US US$15.524 million, accounting for 14.2 per cent of the US market share.

• VNA