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India’s seafood export industry provided relief to the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The country shipped 12,89,651 MT of seafood with a total value of Rs 46,662.85 crore (USD 6.68 billion) in the financial year 2019-20. Frozen shrimp was the largest export item in terms of value and quantity, followed by frozen fish. The United States and China were the largest importers of Indian seafood. Although the quantity and USD value declined by 7.39 per cent and 0.74 per cent, respectively, the exports improved by 0.16 per cent in Rupee terms compared to the previous year. Chairman of the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), K S Srinivas, attributed this success to the fact that the exports maintained high quantities despite the sluggish demand in major export markets caused by the pandemic. The pandemic led to several order cancellations, reduced and delayed payments, slowdown of cargo movements, and difficulties in getting new orders. The decline in sea catch due to reduced fishing days along the west coast of India also contributed to the shortfall in quantity. Frozen shrimp accounted for 50.58 per cent of the quantity and 73.21 per cent of the total dollar earnings, retaining its position as the largest item in India’s seafood exports. Shrimp exports increased by 6.04 per cent in dollar value and 6.20 per cent in quantity. Frozen shrimp exports earned Rs 34,152.03 crore (USD 4,889.12 million), with the United States importing the most frozen shrimp, followed by China, the European Union, Japan, South East Asia, and the Middle East. Vannamei (white leg) shrimp exports increased from 4,18,128 MT to 5, 12,189 MT, with the United States and China accounting for 51.07 per cent and 21.81 per cent of total exports, respectively. The United States also became the major market for Black Tiger shrimp, accounting for 36.88 per cent of total exports. Frozen fish was the second-largest export item, accounting for 17.32 per cent of the quantity and 7.69 per cent of the dollar earnings. Although frozen fish exports decreased by 34.11 per cent in quantity and 26.53 per cent in dollar value, the export of frozen cuttlefish showed positive growth of 17.76 per cent in quantity, 1.71 per cent in Rupee value, and 1.45 per cent in dollar terms. The chilled items sector also exhibited growth of 23.22 per cent, 2.53 per cent, and 1.29 per cent in terms of quantity, Rupee value, and USD earnings, respectively. However, exports of frozen squid and dried items decreased during the period. In terms of overseas markets, the United States remained the largest importer of Indian seafood in value terms, importing seafood worth USD 2,562.54 million, accounting for 38.37 per cent of the dollar value. The export to the United States registered growth of 8.25 per cent in quantity, 10.38 per cent in Rupee value, and 9.30 per cent in USD earnings.

The discovery of the coronavirus on fish cutting boards at Beijing’s Xinfadi seafood market has led to a new cluster of COVID-19 infections, causing Chinese authorities to halt imports of fresh seafood products, including salmon from Europe The fear of a potential connection between salmon and the virus has resulted in the removal of imported seafood products from supermarket shelves, and a decline in sales of imported seafood across China. However, seafood trade groups in the United States and Europe are disputing this theory, citing numerous scientific studies which state that there is no evidence of COVID-19 being transmitted via food or water, and no link between seafood and the virus. The Issue at Hand SeafoodSource reports that imported seafood across China has plummeted, with salmon bearing the brunt of the impact due to its popularity in sushi dishes. Although there is no formal ban or import restriction in place, seafood traders have confirmed that Beijing has halted imports of all fresh seafood products, according to the South China Morning Post. European air freight carrier Cargolux circulated an internal memo saying that a temporary ban has been put on all perishable shipments to various airports in China. The Fear Factor Top Chinese medical experts have warned the public to avoid eating salmon, with Zeng Guang, a senior expert with the National Health Commission, saying that the public has yet to find out whether human beings transmitted the virus to salmon or whether salmon contracted the virus first. Wu Zunyou, China’s Center for Diseases Prevention and Control Chief Epidemiologist, said that the virus can survive on the surface of frozen food for up to three months, and that the agency “highly suspects” contaminated goods as the source of the latest outbreak. Disputing Misinformation Despite the alarm, numerous seafood trade groups, including the National Fisheries Institute, which represents the U.S. seafood industry, and the Norwegian Seafood Council, are fighting back against the perceived misinformation. They maintain that there is no connection between seafood and COVID-19, and that food has not been implicated in the transmission of the virus. Additionally, scientific studies from a range of international organizations, including the World Health Organization, have found no evidence of the virus being transmitted through seafood. Conclusion The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention is making its own effort to clarify the situation, stating that there is no evidence to suggest that salmon is the host or intermediate host of the coronavirus. Similarly, the Norwegian Seafood Council has confirmed that Norwegian seafood is safe, and that there are no known cases of infection via food or water. While the outbreak in Beijing is causing uncertainty and speculation, the origins of this new outbreak remain unclear, and the scientific community continues to stress that there is no evidence to suggest that COVID-19 can infect or be passed along to other humans through aquatic animals.

Savory Alaska, a family-owned business based in Leander, is not only offering fresh and delicious Alaskan fish to Texans but also supporting small businesses located 2,600 miles away in Alaska. Introduction Savory Alaska, owned by Nathanael and Sarah Ferguson, was established in 2018 with the aim of providing their Texas friends and family a taste of Alaska. After receiving numerous compliments on their salmon dishes, the couple realized that they had access to some of the best seafood in the world and decided to share this with others. The Fresh Taste of Alaskan Fish Savory Alaska offers fish that tastes like the ocean and lacks the “fishy” taste that many customers avoid. The Fergusons’ fish is humanely processed, and they prioritize sustainability. Unlike large fisheries, the fishermen who work with Savory Alaska are from small, independent businesses, which creates a ripple effect of support. Supporting Small Businesses When customers purchase fish from Savory Alaska, they not only support the family-owned business in Leander but also small businesses located in Alaska. The fishermen who work with Savory Alaska come from small, independent businesses, which allows for a ripple effect of support for Alaskan communities. Expressing Gratitude for Loyal Customers Nathanael and Sarah are grateful for their regular customers who have helped their business grow. They believe that the support of their customers has allowed them to create a positive impact on both the Texas and Alaskan communities.

Vietnam’s seafood industry is seeing remarkable growth, with the latest figures revealing that Vietnamese tuna exports to Italy grew by 8,599 percent in the last month compared to the same period last year. This surge has made Italy the largest tuna market for Vietnam in the European Union (EU) over the first nine months of this year. The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) announced these figures last week, along with predictions that the country’s marine product exports will reach $3.5 billion in 2021, up 17 percent from 2018. Canned Tuna Drives Growth Canned tuna exports are the only product group to post growth over the same period, up 22 percent. Conversely, Vietnam’s exports of fresh and frozen tuna decreased by 30 percent. This suggests that the canned tuna market is the primary driver of the country’s growth in this sector. Vietnam’s tuna exports to the EU market increased by 51 percent last month compared to the same period last year, following the implementation of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA). EVFTA Opens Doors for Vietnamese Tuna Businesses The EVFTA’s abolition of tax on fresh and frozen tuna products made Vietnamese products more attractive to EU countries. Furthermore, processed and canned tuna products from Vietnam have gained popularity in this market. According to VASEP, this signifies that the door to the EU market is opening wider for Vietnamese tuna businesses. US Market Shows Signs of Recovery Vietnam’s tuna exports to the US also show signs of recovery in the last two months after a decline due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Tuna export value to the US reached over $25 million last month, up 2 percent compared to the same period last year. The canned tuna market in the US, which is familiar to most consumers, has shown good growth, with beef, pork, and poultry supplies disrupted due to the pandemic. This has led to an increase in the US’s tuna imports. Japan and Canada Also Show Growth Potential Apart from the US and the EU markets, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Japan and Canada also grew last month. After three consecutive months of decline, tuna exports to Japan increased again. Meanwhile, Canada is a promising market for Vietnamese tuna this year, with continuous three-digit growth in recent months.

Fishery businesses in Đồng Tháp Province are navigating challenging conditions brought about by COVID-19. The pandemic has caused a reduction in demand for fish products, leading to farmers incurring losses of VNĐ1,000-6,500 per kilo of fish. To address this situation, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is working with the Department of Industry and Trade to explore export opportunities in countries that have signed free trade agreements with Việt Nam. Impact of COVID-19 on Shark Catfish Exports The province’s shark catfish exports have been particularly affected by COVID-19. The price of raw catfish has fallen significantly from VNĐ18,000-18,500 per kilo to VNĐ4,500 less than the same period last year. This situation may persist through the second quarter of the year. Furthermore, most processing businesses have a surplus of cold storage due to reduced exports, even though raw materials remain abundant. Reduced Fishling Production and Snake Head Prices The consumption of commercial shark catfish has also slowed, leading to lower prices for fishlings. In addition, farmers are not refilling their farms after harvests as much as they usually do. The price of snake heads has dropped by VNĐ12,000 year-on-year to VNĐ24,000-25,000. Fishery Sector in Đồng Tháp Province Đồng Tháp Province has 4,000 hectares of land dedicated to fisheries, mainly producing shark catfish, snakehead, and red tilapia. The province is home to 20 fishery processing businesses that employ around 21,000 workers. Despite the difficulties, the province is exploring various solutions to help its fishery businesses. By examining export activities and proposing solutions to ministries and authorities, Đồng Tháp Province aims to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 and ensure the long-term growth of its fishery sector.

Vietnamese tra fish products have been successful in the US market, despite facing trade barriers. The export value has been increasing and is expected to continue to grow in the future. This success is due to the high quality of Vietnamese tra fish compared to other exporters. Vietnamese Tra Fish Products are a Success in the US Market Vietnamese tra fish products have dominated the US market from January to April 2018, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). The total export value of tra fish to the US market has reached $108 million in the first half of April, which is a 26% increase compared to the same period last year. This value has been consistently growing, and VASEP expects this trend to continue. Vietnamese Tra Fish is the Preferred Choice in the US Market Vietnam and China are the only exporters of tra fish to the US market, and Vietnamese tra fish has accounted for 90% of the total imports to the US. Although China has increased its production of frozen catfish fillets in recent years, the average price of Chinese catfish in the US market is significantly higher than that of Vietnamese catfish. This is because the quality of Vietnamese tra fish is superior to other exporters, making it the preferred choice in the US market. Challenges to Vietnamese Tra Fish Exports The increasing demand for Vietnamese tra fish products in the US market has led to a surge in the cost of raw material in the domestic market. This has caused an increase in the price of catfish in all export markets, including the US. Additionally, anti-dumping duty and the catfish inspection programme have prevented local seafood enterprises from promoting exports of catfish products to the US market. Future Prospects for Vietnamese Tra Fish Exports Despite the challenges, Vietnamese tra fish products have been successful in the US market, and this trend is expected to continue. VASEP expects the export value of tra fish to slightly increase in the second quarter of this year against the same period last year. Although the number of tra fish exporters to the US market is likely to remain at less than three enterprises, Vietnamese tra fish products will continue to dominate the US market due to its superior quality.

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted the seafood industry, causing a decrease in export value, delayed payments from customers, and high-interest rates on loans. Domestic seafood enterprises in Vietnam have proposed various financial solutions to help them overcome these difficulties in production and business, according to the Vietnam Association of Fisheries (VASEP). Impact of COVID-19 on Seafood Export Vietnam has experienced a strong reduction in seafood export value in the first two months of this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. With the disease still spreading across the world, the negative effects on the country’s seafood exports are expected to continue. The prolonged shipping time has led to slow seafood export activities to Asian markets such as China, Japan, and South Korea. Furthermore, strict lockdown measures in many countries have led to a sharp drop in out-of-home consumption of seafood in those markets, especially high-price seafood products. Challenges Faced by Vietnamese Seafood Enterprises Vietnamese seafood enterprises are facing difficulties with production and business, due to a large inventory of seafood products and delayed payments from customers. These challenges have resulted in a great impact on payment for their loans in March, April, and May. At present, many seafood enterprises in Vietnam require loans from banks, but the interest rates on these loans are high. Medium- and long-term loans from large commercial banks have an annual interest rate of 7 percent, and small commercial banks have a rate of 10.5 percent. Vietnamese đồng loans have an interest rate of 6-8.5 percent, and US dollar loans have a rate of 4-4.5 percent. Financial Solutions Proposed by Vietnamese Seafood Enterprises After a meeting with the seafood enterprises, VASEP has collected the financial solutions proposed by them to deal with the existing difficulties. They have suggested that banks should provide loans with suitable interest rates ranging from 3 percent to 6.5 percent for Vietnamese đồng loans and from 1.5 percent to 2.8 percent for US dollar loans. The seafood businesses have also asked the banks to reduce procedures and conditions for lending and disbursement of loans. Additionally, they have requested banks to give them loans to store goods for consumption after the pandemic ends. The seafood enterprises have recommended that banks extend payment deadlines by 2-3 months for debts. They expect free transfers at banks and reductions of 50 percent for transfer fees to other banks. They also hope to enjoy free transfers from foreign banks to their accounts at local banks. Moreover, the businesses have suggested exempting or reducing fees for financial services and business activities, including free services during transactions at banks and fee reductions for services relating to import and export activities. Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic has created various challenges for Vietnamese seafood enterprises. However, they have proposed several financial solutions to cope with these difficulties, including suitable interest rates, reduced procedures and conditions for lending, extension of payment deadlines, and exemptions or reductions of fees for financial services and business activities. These measures can help the seafood enterprises continue their production and business activities during these challenging times.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a difficult economic context for many industries around the world, including the tuna industry in Việt Nam. To overcome this challenging time, the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has suggested that tuna processors and exporters explore the domestic market. Challenges for Tuna Exporters In case Việt Nam could control the pandemic, but it still exists in Europe and the US, the tuna export market would be difficult and unstable. Tuna is an expensive dish served in restaurants for people with high incomes, but due to COVID-19, many people have lost their income, causing consumption to decrease even when the pandemic is under control. Nguyễn Thị Thu Thanh, director of Sustainable Seafood Limited Company in Khánh Hòa province, stated that the company purchased about VNĐ25-30 billion (US$1.06 million-1.29 million) of raw materials in the past month but only exported about VNĐ2-3 billion monthly. Despite having inventories, businesses still have to pay money to fishermen and interest rates for banks. Additionally, businesses must endure soaring electricity costs due to cold storage, which puts a significant burden on their costs. The Potential of the Domestic Market Nguyễn Thị Thu Sắc, chairwoman of VASEP’s seafood committee, stated that Việt Nam is not only a major seafood exporter but also a potential consumption market for many other countries. The country has a system of restaurants and hotels for international and domestic tourists, a population in the age of high consumption, and increasing income, especially in urban areas, accompanied by the tendency to choose meals outside. All of these factors create a diversified seafood consumption market, which tuna processors and exporters can exploit. Encouraging Domestic Consumption If tuna processors and exporters do not take advantage of the domestic market, consumers may choose seafood imported from other countries. To ensure tuna is consumed, localities with ocean tuna fishing fleets have strengthened the consumption solution, helping the fishing and processing industry overcome the difficulties. For instance, Phú Yên province has encouraged businesses to focus on promoting tuna products and boosting domestic consumption through service and tourism activities. The provincial People’s Committee discourages fishermen from increasing the number of fishing vessels but concentrate on preservation stages to improve the quality of tuna and boost domestic consumption. Furthermore, restaurants, hotels, and large tourist areas of the province have regularly invited culinary experts to perform the demonstration of slaughtering and processing of tuna to serve customers in the past year. These activities have contributed to bringing the provincial tuna specialty to many domestic consumers, improving the value and brand of tuna. Proactive Scenarios for Agricultural and Aquatic Exports To meet the increasing demand of world consumers when the pandemic is over, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has proposed management agencies and associations proactively develop scenarios of agricultural and aquatic exports. In conclusion, the keyword of this content is tuna, and it discusses the challenges for tuna exporters during the pandemic and the potential of the domestic market. The article also provides solutions to encourage domestic consumption and proactive scenarios for agricultural and aquatic exports.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has urged the country’s tra fish (pangasius) industry to focus on improving its quality to compete with not only traditional rivals, but also its biggest importer – China. Vietnam’s tra fish sector faces strong competition from countries like India, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, each representing 15-20% of global production. Quality over Quantity Experts suggest that the competitiveness of Vietnamese tra fish should not be assessed solely on quantity, but rather on the quality of the material and products. To address this issue, a 600-hectare high-tech tra fish farm will be developed in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang in the fourth quarter of this year. Once operational, the farm is expected to supply around 200,000 tonnes of high-quality raw materials annually for processing and subsequent export. Opportunities in E-Commerce VASEP Secretary General Trương Đình Hòe believes that once Vietnamese tra fish improves in quality and gains the trust of consumers in demanding markets, it will have more opportunities to be sold well on e-commerce platforms such as Alibaba of China and Amazon of the US. “Through the e-commerce website (Alibaba), Vietnam’s tra fish products will have greater chances to enter this giant market,” he added. Growing Competition The global production of farmed tra fish was estimated at 2.8 million tonnes in 2018, up 6% from the previous year, and about 45% of this total was sourced from Vietnam, mostly in the Mekong Delta, according to the association. As of March 2019, there were 20 tra fish processing factories in China whose production capacity had reached some 30,000 tonnes per year. This indicates that China is likely to become a big rival to Vietnam’s tra fish industry in the near future. Increased Competition from India The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has also warned that Vietnam will face more competition from India, especially in the black tiger shrimp market, where India has been exporting to Japan, one of Vietnam’s traditional export markets for seafood. India has targeted to triple its domestic seafood output with support from the government by promoting the development of projects relating to the production of shrimp varieties. Conclusion Vietnam’s seafood export value in the first three months of 2019 reached $1.8 billion, a year-on-year increase of 0.5%, including $645 million in March. The top four export markets of Vietnamese seafood in the first two months of 2019 were Japan, the US, China, and South Korea, accounting for 52.8% of the total seafood export value. Despite the growth, the purchasing price of tra fish and shrimp has reduced in March due to a drop in export orders of those seafood products. The Vietnamese tra fish industry must focus on improving quality to stay competitive in the global market.