ASEAN emerges as one of biggest importers of Vietnamese tra fish

ASEAN has emerged as the fourth biggest importer of Vietnamese tra fish (pangasius) after the US, China and the EU, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

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Pangasius exports to ASEAN countries rose 41.5% to US$202.6 million last year, in which exports to Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines increased 48.8%, 20.7%, and 32.1%, respectively.

In the first quarter this year, pangasius exports to ASEAN picked up 18% compared to the same period last year to US$55.17 million.

ASEAN has been the potential market for Vietnamese pangasius over the past years thanks to the bloc’s trade in goods agreement (ATIGA) signed in 2009 and took effect since May 17, 2010, said the VASEP.

Four countries namely Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Viet Nam removed 90% of tariff lines in 2015 and 97% in 2018.

Meanwhile, other six member countries totally removed 1,706 tariff lines against against Vietnamese products in 2010.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said Viet Nam’s pangasius output may reach 1.51 million tons with projected export values of around US$2.4 billion.