Tháng mười 30, 2020

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.