Vietnam's Seafood Export Hits US$797 Mln in Q1, up 11.4 per cent

Vietnam is estimated to have shipped US$300 million worth of seafood products abroad in March, raising its seafood export revenue in the first quarter of 2008 to US$797 million, up 11.4 per cent on year, the General Statistics Office reported.

 

Of the total, exports of tra and basa catfish brought in US$250 million, up more than 42 per cent, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

 

The GSO said Vietnam’s total aquatic product output hit 517,000 tons, fulfilling 27 per cent of its yearly plan and making on year rise of 1 per cent, despite the fact that a number of offshore fishing boats were docked due to petrol prices hikes.

 

The aquaculture sector also generated 416,000 tons, up 26 per cent, including 58,500 tons of shrimp

 

Vietnam early this year set target to net more than 4.8 million tons of aquatic products in 2008, up 13.6 per cent on year. Some 2.2 million of which will be caught aquatic products, and 2.6 million being aquaculture, up 6.6 per cent and 13 per cent, respectively, from 2007. (New Hanoi Mar 31 p1, GSO March Edition)