Japanese seafood exporters keen to explore Vietnamese market

Japanese salmon is a key product which has been well consumed and received active comments from Vietnamese consumers. — Photo 5giay.vn

More than 30 Japanese seafood processing businesses participated in the Viet Nam-Japan trade co-operation programme organised by the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) in HCM City on Monday.

The programme is one of the largest export promotion events of the Japanese seafood industry held in Viet Nam.

Kazuhiro Takahashi, director of the JETRO’s agriculture, forestry, fisheries and food division, said Viet Nam was one of the most important seafood import markets for Japan in Asia.

The Japanese seafood industry uses modern processing technology, ensuring safety, a unique flavour and freshness. However, the main obstacle faced by the Japanese seafood industry in the Vietnamese market is the price, which is really high compared with domestic seafood products, Kazuhiro Takahashi said.

Katsuya Uchida, a representative of Kyokuyo Company, said Japanese businesses expected to increase consumption in Viet Nam in the future.

He said Viet Nam occupied 30 per cent of his company’s total seafood exports, of which salmon and tuna were two key products which had been well consumed and received active comments from Vietnamese consumers.

However, the company was exporting its products through a go-between agency, which pushed the price up and made it difficult to compete with others, Katsuya Uchida said.

According to Le Van May, chairman of Lotus Group, most Vietnamese customers appreciated the quality and flavour of Japanese seafood. This was not only an advantage for Japanese businesses to boost exports to Viet Nam but also an opportunity for Vietnamese firms to expand their business of such high-quality seafood products.

Vo Thanh Do, deputy head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Agro-Forestry, Seafood Processing and Salt Industry Department, said Japan was one of Viet Nam's traditional partners and actively contributed to developing Viet Nam’s seafood processing industry.

Japan’s promotion of seafood exports to Viet Nam will create further opportunities for Vietnamese customers to use high-quality seafood products and will be a driving force for Vietnamese firms to learn more about processing technology to improve quality and value of Vietnamese seafood.

It is estimated that Japan’s seafood export value reached 20 billion yen (US$176.25 million) per year, accounting for 60 per cent of Japan’s total export value of agro-forestry and seafood in Viet Nam.