Vietnam's Seafood Exports Keep Rising in 8 Months

Vietnam notched up nearly US$2.873 billion from shipping 801,572 tons of seafood in the first eight months of 2008, marking on year rises of 21.6 per cent in terms of value and 38.4 per cent in volume, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said on its Web site, posting figures from the General Customs Department.

 

Of the sum, export of frozen shrimp brought in US$976 million, with total volume of 113,493 tons, up 6.9 per cent and 19 per cent on year, respectively.

 

In Jan-Aug, the shrimp export accounted for 34 per cent of the country’s total seafood export revenues, down from 38.7 per cent in 2007. Export of tra and basa catfish accounted for 32.3 per cent of the total revenues, up from 26.6 per cent in 2007, with total value of US$928 million. Export of frozen cuttle-fish also rose sharply, generating US$212 million.

 

In the Jan-Aug period, Vietnam also exported US$108 million worth of tuna, up 23.3 per cent on year in value, despite a decrease of 2.9 per cent in volume.

 

In terms of market, European Union was still the biggest importer of Vietnamese seafood with total spending of US$732.3 million, up 25.6 per cent on year, and accounting for 25.5 per cent of Vietnam’s total seafood export revenues.

 

Japan surpassed the U.S. to become the second biggest importer with US$538.3 million, up 20 per cent on year.

 

Export to the U.S. decreased by 7.5 per cent from 2007 to only US$433.7 million and export to China also dropped by 8.8 per cent to US$96.7 million.

 

Meanwhile, Vietnam saw the sharpest rise in export to Ukraine, by 228 per cent on year to US$99 million, followed by Russia with a growth of 125 per cent to US$152 million. The surprising growths gained at Ukraine and Russia showed that they are potential markets to Vietnamese seafood in the coming time.

 

Russia and Ukraine were also the second and third biggest importers of Vietnamese tra and basa catfish after EU. (Vasep)