Seafood exports firmly target 8 billion USD

With favorable momentum, the seafood export turnover is expected to reach 8 billion USD, an increase of more than 1 billion USD over 2016.

This year, the weather is quite favorable for shrimp farming, creating a stable source of raw materials for processing and export. Photo: N.Thanh.

18% increase over the same period

During the beginning of the year, seafood exports are always growing up over the same period last year. According to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the cumulative value of the first eight months of the year, seafood exports reached 5.13 billion USD, up 18% over the same period in 2016. The United States, Japan, China and South Korea are the top four import markets of Vietnam in the first 7 months, accounting for 55.6% of total export value. In the past seven months, the most important seafood export markets are China (over 57%), Japan (30.8%), Britain (over 30%), South Korea (28% 8%) etc.

According to representatives of MARD: This year, the situation of aquaculture, especially for two main aquatic products are catfish and shrimp have positive signals, creating a stable supply for export. Specifically, for catfish, the catfish ponds are managed and planned strictly. Since the beginning of the year, the price of catfish tends to increase so farmers gradually stabilize production. The area of catfish farming has reached 4,746 hectares, up 1.9% over the same period last year. In the main harvest, the yield of 8 months harvested by the Mekong Delta provinces has increased significantly, reaching over 815 thousand tons, an increase of 10% over the same period of 2016. Of which, Dong Thap province has the largest yield reached over 303 thousand tons, up 25.4% over the same period last year.

For shrimp, in general, this weather is much more favorable than in 2016 should brackish shrimp farming in the Mekong Delta increase quietly. Specifically, the area of white shrimp farming in 8 months is estimated at 63.6 thousand hectares, up over 15% over the same period last year with an estimated production of over 165 thousand tons, a strong increase of nearly 34%. For black tiger shrimp, the harvested yield in the first eight months was estimated at over 150 thousand tons, up 8.1%. Particularly, the point worth noting is, the price of shrimp material is still stable and tends to increase, creating more incentive for farmers.

All year exports reached 8 billion USD

Recently, the United States decided to test 100% of Vietnam's export catfish fish exports to this market under the catfish inspection program from 2nd of August instead of the plan from the previous September 1st raised concerns about the situation of exporting catfish in particular and seafood export in general.

In relation to this issue, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Oai, Deputy Director General of the General Department of Fisheries (MARD) said: Normally every year, Catfish export value to the US accounts for over 21% of the total export value of this product. When the US inspects 100% of the catfish exported from Vietnam, the goods are taken to the US-requested warehouse and the US will take about 3% of the total shipments to be inspected. Currently, Vietnam has only 3 fish exporters in the United States. The companies have focused on producing self-catfish source and have bought more raw materials from other farming households. In addition to the preparation of enterprises, MARD has also issued a program to control catfish export to the US market to better control this issue. Therefore, although the US side applied a strict inspection of 100% of shipments, this move did not significantly affect the export of catfish in particular and seafood export, in general, this year. Catfish export is expected to reach 1.7 billion USD in FY2006 and 8 billion USD in seafood exports, up more than 1 billion USD compared to 2016, Mr. Oai stressed

Actually, with the growth momentum of export, the import turnover of seafood also increased sharply. Specifically, the report of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development showed that in the first eight months, seafood import value reached over 900 million USD, up over 31% over the same period in 2016. The largest seafood import market in the first 7 months of the year in India (26.4% market share) followed by China with 8.8% market share. Prior to some questions raised about the seafood export increase but also depends on imported raw materials, Mr. Oai added: Vietnam is currently exporting seafood to more than 100 countries. Domestic raw materials basically meet the needs of export processing. However, when excess capacity, the import of raw materials processing, export, contribute to add value added is praiseworthy, nothing to worry.

On key tasks for sustainable development of the fisheries sector in the coming time, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong directed, the General Department of Fisheries must continue to complete the Law on Fisheries in the spirit of quality assurance and progress. To submit to the National Assembly for comments at the 4th session of the XIV National Assembly. In addition, the General Department of Fisheries must also actively coordinate with the Department of Animal Health, Department of Quality Management of Agriculture, Forest Products and Fisheries held a conference to thoroughly grasp 6 shrimp provinces across the country on the issue of resistance birth and impurities.