Seafood exports hit the record high

11/22/2013 9:56:44 AM

(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam seafood exports in October 2013 reached the all-time high of US$776 million, up nearly 30 percent year-on-year mainly due to sharp increase in shrimp exports, especially three-fold growth in whiteleg shrimp sales. A 6.4 percent recovery in pangasius exports and 7 percent increase in cephalopod exports were also attributable to overall increase in seafood exports in the month.

In October, shrimp exports were up 74 percent to reach the record high of US$404 million including US$229 million of vannamei, occupying 57 percent of the country’s total shrimp exports and US$153 million of black tiger shrimp, occupying 37.8 percent.

Through October 2013, vannamei sales accounted for 49 percent of the country’s total shrimp exports and the proportion of black tiger shrimp was over 44 percent. In upcoming months and in 2014, vannamei exports will continue to bring back more foreign currencies for the country.

To overcome raw material shortage, domestic shrimp processors are importing raw material for processing. Thanks to rising exported shrimp price and decreasing global supply of raw shrimp, Vietnam’s shrimp exports until October 2013 obtained nearly US$2.5 billion, up 33 percent year-on-year and making up 44 percent of total seafood exports (US$5.57 billion). Pangasius sales in October 2013 recovered; however, the figure through October 2013 downed 0.5 percent year-on-year to US$1.45 billion.

Tuna exports remained the downward trend, mostly decrease in exports of ocean tuna (fresh/frozen/chilled). Total tuna shipment in October this year fell 14 percent and the year to date figure downed 5.4 percent.

Vietnam seafood exports, Jan-Oct 2013 (US$mil.)
PRODUCTS	Sep 2013 (Value)	Oct 2013 (Value)	Compared to Oct 2012 (%)	Jan-Oct 2013 (Value)	Compared to the same period of 2012 (%)
Shrimp (HS code 03 and 16)	334.218	403.611	+73.9	2,467.213	+32.7
incl: - Whiteleg shrimp	180.864	228.740	+207.3	1,207.769	+99.7
- Black tiger shrimp	134.848	152.683	+14.4	1,096.071	+5.14
Pangasius (HS code 03 and 16)	137.819	173.218	+6.4	1,447.176	-0.5
Tuna (HS code 03 and 16)	37.066	39.167	-14.3	453.929	-5.4
incl: - Tuna HS code 16	21.590	23.541	+12.0	208.313	+21.9
- Tuna HS code 03	15.476	15.625	-36.7	245.617	-20.5
Other finfish ( from HS code 0301 to 0305 and 1604, ext tuna, pangasius)	75.458	88.131	-0.4	699.567	-5.0
Mollusk (HS code 0307 and 16)	44.650	57.700	+5.0	423.138	-13.0
incl: - Cephalopod	39.255	51.049	+6.9	360.559	-14.4
- Bivalve mollusk	5.148	6.335	-9.5	60.966	-4.7
Crab, swimming crab (HS code 03 and 16)	10.702	13.991	+0.3	84.940	-10.5
TOTAL	639.912	775.817	+29.7	5,575.964	+9.1

Kim Thu