Vietnam was estimated to earn US$1.6 billion from seafood exports in the first six months of this year, posting an on-year rise of 17 per cent despite encountering a series of obstacles arising from food hygiene and safety requirements, the Ministry of Fisheries reported.
The figure has helped the sector reach 46 per cent of its target set for the whole year.
The European Union outstripped the US and Japan to become the largest importer of Vietnamese seafood products, accounting for 24.4 per cent of Vietnam’s total seafood export earnings.
The US ranked second with 18.3 per cent while Japan fell to the third place from its first position, registering 17 per cent.
Other importers include South Korea, 7.4 per cent, Russia, 5.2 per cent, China, 5.1 per cent, ASEAN, 5.8 per cent and other countries, 16.7 per cent.
Frozen fish remains the top export, with a 49 per cent increase in volume and a 35 per cent rise in value, followed by frozen shrimp, with increases of 16 per cent and 39 per cent, respectively.
“Tra” and “basa” catfish products are predicted to continue to be a key factor to influence frozen fish exports.
However, strict measures should be applied to control the fast growing of tra and basa breeding in the Mekong Delta due to hike prices in the products, which has led to fry shortage and may harm the environment, said officials of the ministry.
Vietnam, the seventh largest exporter and fifth biggest producer of seafood products globally, is expected to record seafood export turnover of US$3.6 billion this year, up 7 per cent compared to the previous year. (Vietnam & World Economy)
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