HCM Citys ornamental fish exports to hit US$23 million this year

Ho Chi Minh City is likely to produce 180 million ornamental fish and export in excess of 20 million fish to earn up to US$23 million this year according to its target program on ornamental fish development.

The Fisheries Branch of the Municipal Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that 137 million ornamental fish were produced during the first nine months of the year, a year-on-year rise of 19%. Nearly 15 million fish were shipped abroad via Tan Son Nhat Airport with an export value of nearly US$17 million, up 14% over the same period last year.

At present, 21 separate companies are allowed to export ornamental fish, of which the Sai Gon Ornamental Creatures JSC account for 85% of total exports.

The city’s ornamental fish has been shipped to 43 countries in the world with the European market the biggest and constituting 54% of exports. The remainder comes from the Asian, American and South African markets.

Furthermore, during the final months of 2018, the city aims to produce 40-45 million fish and export a further 4.5-5 million of them with a total export value of US$5-6 million.