Vietnam Eyes US$3.7Mln Seafood Export in 2007

Vietnam is expected to reap US$253 million from seafood export in December to bring total revenues to US$3.7 billion by the end of the year, ranking in top world’s top ten seafood exporters with outlets expanding to 128 countries.

 

Of the total, shrimp export only is expected to contribute to $1.665 billion, and catfish export, $1 billion.

 

However, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep) Nguyen Huu Dung said Vietnamese seafood companies are facing serious shortage of input materials, particularly in central and northern regions.

 

Deputy Minister of the Industry and Trade Nguyen Thanh Bien said local processors are confronting challenges in meeting safe and hygienic foods requirements adopted by countries of EU, Japan, and the U.S., three main importers of Vietnam

 

Vietnamese companies are striving to ship their seafood to such new markets as Russia, Ukraine, South American, and Africa while keeping market share at their traditional markets.

 

Currently, EU is recognized as the biggest importer of Vietnamese seafood, accounting for 24.4 per cent, followed by the U.S. and Japan with 19.4 per cent each. But the U.S’ trade barrier in anti-dumping lawsuits against Vietnamese tra and basa catfish, and stricter safe and hygienic standards from Japan and Australia are indeed obstacles to Vietnamese exporters.

 

Meanwhile, high production costs, resulted from increasing transport charges, customs fees and seafood quality inspecting fees are also beating Vietnamese seafood companies, Dung admitted. (VOV)