Dried Seafood Export rakes in a lot of clams for Vietnam

The year 2010 could continue to be a successful year for the dried seafood industry after a major export boom in 2009, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

According to the General Department of Customs (GDC), Vietnam exported 43,000 tonnes of dried seafood in 2009, reaping $160 million, an increase of 31.2 percent in quantity and 9.9 percent in value compared to 2008. The average export price was $3.49 per kilo.

Vietnam’s dried seafood products have been welcome in more than 50 countries worldwide. Most of the markets have seen very satisfactory 2-3 digit growth rates year after year.

In the past, ASEAN, South Korea, China, Japan and Taiwan are the main export markets for Vietnam’s dried seafood products. Combined they consume 80 percent of Vietnam’s dried seafood exports.

However, in 2009 South Korea, surpassing ASEAN, became the biggest import market for Vietnam’s dried seafood, consuming approximately 12,000 tonnes. This is an increase of an astounding 147.3 percent from 2008.

Despite the great potentials, traditionally Vietnam has not paid suitable attention to pushing up the export of dried seafood. When talking about seafood export, analysts have always touted the merits of tra, basa and fresh shrimp and various frozen exports.

Nguyen Truong Thinh, a Viet Kieu and trader of dried anchovy in the U.S., said: “In the US, dried anchovy is mostly being sold at the supermarkets of Asian people community such as South Korean, Taiwanese and Chinese. I’m sure that the products originate from Vietnam, but the labels on the products do not say that they are from Vietnam”.

Also according to Thinh, Vietnamese export products have some weak points. One of the problems is the poor labeling and packaging. Vietnamese enterprises have not been aware of the importance of marketing and they do not have long term strategies to ‘conquer’ export markets.

In the latest news, in the first three months of the year, Vietnam exported 6258 tonnes of dried seafood worth $24.2 million, according to GDC. In March alone, Vietnam exported 3232 tonnes of products valued at $.8 million, an increase of 45.4 percent in quantity and 3.5 percent in quality in comparison with the same period of the last year.

According to VASEP, the exports to Russia and Ukraine are forecast to see continued sharp increases this year after the two markets increased the imports significant in the last months of 2009. The exports to Ukraine, for example, increased by 251 percent in quantity and 206 percent in value in comparison with the same period of 2008.

Thoi bao Kinh te Vietnam

Tags: Vietnam export, Vietnam Seafood, Vietnam seafood exports