Yearly seafood exports to earn 4.8 bln USD

Vietnam is expected to earn more than 4.8 billion USD from the export
of 1.3 million tonnes of aquatic products this year, according to the
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

Of which, tra fish brought in over 1.3 billion USD from 630,000 tonnes.

The
Ministry attributed the positive signals in Vietnamese seafood exports
to the economic recovery of several countries, especially developed
economies, which has slightly upped the sales of seafood globally.
According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organistion (FAO),
the volume of seafood on the world market in 2010 is estimated at around
52.8 million tonnes, in comparison with 52.5 million tonnes in 2009.

However, Vietnam ’s seafood export processing businesses face a lack of seafood products for processing.

To
increase supplies, Vietnam has targeted an output of between 6.5-7
million tonnes of aquatic products, 65–70 percent of them aquaculture,
as set in the country’s aquatic development strategy till 2020.

In
the first nine months of this year, the country earned 3.5 billion USD
from aquatic exports. Japan remains Vietnam ’s largest consumption
market. It is closely followed by the United States , the Republic of
Korea , Germany , Spain and China .

In addition to its
major and traditional markets, Vietnamese seafood is now also widely
available in many Latin American countries./.

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US reduces dumping duties on shrimp

The US Department of Commerce has decided to cut anti-dumping tariffs it had imposed on 31 Vietnamese shrimp exporters by 0.01-0.69 percentage points.

The move followed feedback to the department's fourth administrative review conducted between February 2008 and January 2009 of shrimp imported into the US by Nha Trang Seafood Joint Stock Co, Minh Phu Seafood Co, and Minh Hai Seafood Co.

Under the revised tariffs, the duty on shrimps imported by Nha Trang will be reduced from a maximum on 5.58 per cent to 4.89 per cent. Minh Phu will see a reduction of 0.01 per cent to 2.95 per cent, while the others will be subject to a duty of 3.92 per cent, reduced from the previous 4.27 per cent.

The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) continued to complain, however, that Vietnamese companies were subject to higher duties than Indian exporters, which paid duties no higher than 4.44 per cent.

Last April, Viet Nam asked the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body to set up a panel to review US anti-dumping measures imposed on frozen warm-water shrimp from Viet Nam. WTO general director Pascal Lamy recently appointed three members to the panel.

After six months, the panel was expected to make a final report, clearing the way for further legal action between the parties. If it proceeds, this would constitute Viet Nam's first trade lawsuit against a WTO member

 

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Tra fish among US’s top ten popular seafood products

Tra fish has become one of the US’s top ten popular seafood products in
2009 for the first time, according to the Vietnamese Association of
Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).

n its annual list of the 10 most popular seafood’s, released by the US’s
National Fisheries Institute on September 9, tra fish ranked 10 th .

Luong Le Phuong, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture
and Rural Development said that as tra fish is one of Vietnam’s major
exports, the ministry has introduced measures to strictly control its
quality throughout the stages from farming to processing and marketing.

According to VASEP, in the first seven months of
this year, Vietnamese seafood exports to the US reached 435 million USD,
of which tra fish accounted for 80.8 million USD, up 14 percent from
the same period last year, with the volume reaching over 26,000 tonnes.

However, the US’s Department of Commerce has made a
decision on anti-dumping tax based on the administrative review of tra
fish imports from Vietnam between August 2008 and July 2009, resulting
in Vietnamese seafood exporters facing higher tariffs.

Nguyen Huu Dung, the Deputy Chairman of VASEP said that the
unreasonable tariffs have made many Vietnamese businesses suffer heavy
losses and tra fish exports to the US will find it harder in the near
future./.

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Ministry helps seafood firms out of woes

HCMC – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has modified a circular that imposes strict requirements on seafood temporarily imported for local processing and bound for foreign markets.

Circular 25, effective from early this month, is designed to restrict seafood imports to help reduce the country’s high trade deficit. But 99% of seafood imports by member companies of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) are for export processing.  

Seafood processors have decried the circular, saying it is causing difficulties for their operations, and that they might be closed down if the status quo is maintained.

Under the new circular coded 51, the ministry will exempt food products temporarily imported for export from the quality registration requirement. Meanwhile, products imported for local sale are still subject to the old circular.

Tran Thien Hai, chairman of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said the new circular solved almost all difficulties faced by seafood processors.

Nguyen Quang Tuyen, general director of Cafico Vietnam Joint Stock Co., said the latest circular had virtually dealt with a petition the enterprises sent to the Government. 

According to VASEP, Vietnam imports around 150,000 tons of seafood material for export processing, bringing a 25% profit for local enterprises.

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Vietnam tightens seafood import standards

HCMC – The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will look into food hygiene and safety standards of countries exporting seafood to Vietnam, said Deputy Minister Luong Le Phuong.

Initially, inspections of seafood products from South Korea, China and Canada would be conducted.

This is part of the Circular No. 25/2010/TT-BNNPTNT on food hygiene and safety control for imported products of animal origin. The circular, released by the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department (Nafiqad), will take effect from Wednesday.

“Vietnamese exporters for many years have to follow technical requirements of international importers. So, we have to apply the same standards to protect local consumers and ensure quality of meat products on the market,” Phuong said. The ministry had earlier extended enactment of the circular from July 1 until September 1 due to difficulties on the part of foreign exporters.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), around 80 countries are exporting seafood to Vietnam. The nation mainly imports material for processing to re-export to other markets.

“Assessing the seafood exporting enterprises will help the nation reduce risks in re-exporting the products to choosy markets such as Japan, Europe and North America,” Phuong added.

The circular lists imported foodstuffs of animal origin under the ministry’s management including seafood, cattle, poultry, additives, eggs and honey.

Under the new legislation, food business operator (FBO) is the term for the producer of the final product prior to export to Vietnam. They are producers, not exporters. For example, in case of live crab being exported, farming and packing sites must be registered with the ministry, while in the case of crab meat being exported, it is the processors not the farms that need to register.

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Vietnam’s seafood sector eyes UAE market

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered a favourable market for
Vietnamese seafood exporters which have seen their shipments to the
market increase in recent years.

According to the Vietnam
Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP), Vietnam
exported around 600 tonnes of seafood to the UAE in 2003 and 2004 and
doubled the volume in the next year. The growth was maintained in the
following years, resulting in 10,800 tonnes of seafood exported in 2008.

After
a standstill of 6,400 tonnes of seafood shipped in 2009, the country’s
export to the UAE obtained its biggest growth this year.

According
to the Vietnam General Department of Customs’ report, the UAE imported
over 9,100 tonnes of seafood worth 21.5 million USD from Vietnam in
the first seven months of this year, up by 41.6 percent in volume and
36.3 percent in value against the same period last year.

Of the exports, tra fish was the main product, accounting for about 8,600 tonnes.

The
growth in export of seafood to the UAE is a positive signal due to the
market’s ease on technical standards and import tax exemption in the
context of the sector facing difficulties in its major importing
markets, according to some Vietnamese seafood exporters.

About 68 Vietnamese businesses nationwide have to date been engaged in exporting seafood to the UAE./.

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Vietnam’s processed seafood popular in Asia

Vietnam has exported seafood products to 53 markets throughout the world. Photo: Tuoi Tre

Vietnam’s processed seafood has won more recognition from many Asian countries, especially Japan, South Korea and Cambodia.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), by mid-July, Vietnam had exported around 22,000 tons of processed seafood worth over US$99 million in total to 53 markets throughout the world.

Japan is the largest importer of Vietnamese processed molluscs with 2,800 tonnes, worth more than $17 million. In total, the country imported over 5,000 tonnes of Vietnamese seafood worth around $29 million.

The South Korea has also increased its seafood imports from Vietnam to meet its increasing demand. By July 15, the country had bought over 2,600 tons of processed fish worth more than $13.8 million.

In the reviewed period, Cambodia, a country with a high demand for canned fish products from Vietnam, imported over 1,400 tons of processed seafood worth $2.4 million.

In the first seven months of this year, Vietnam’s seafood export turnover reached $2.45 billion, a year-on-year increase of nearly 12 percent.

The EU remained Vietnam’s largest seafood importer with $512 million, followed by Japan with over $373 million .

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Vietnam’s processed seafood popular in Asia

Vietnam’s processed seafood has won more recognition from many Asian
countries, especially Japan , the Republic of Korea (RoK) and
Cambodia.

According to the Vietnam Association
of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), by mid-July, Vietnam had
exported around 22,000 tonnes of processed seafood worth over 99
million USD in total to 53 markets throughout the world.

Japan is the largest importer of Vietnamese processed molluscs
with 2,800 tonnes, worth more than 17 million USD. In total, the country
imported over 5,000 tonnes of Vietnamese seafood worth around 29
million USD.

The RoK has also increased its
seafood imports from Vietnam to meet its increasing demand. By July
15, the country had bought over 2,600 tonnes of processed fish worth
more than 13.8 million USD.

In the reviewed
period, Cambodia , a country with a high demand for canned fish
products from Vietnam , imported over 1,400 tonnes of processed
seafood worth 2.4 million USD.

In the first seven
months of this year, Vietnam ’s seafood export turnover reached 2.45
billion USD, a year-on-year increase of nearly 12 percent.

The EU remained Vietnam ’s largest seafood importer with 512 million USD, followed by Japan with over 373 million USD./.

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