Shrimp tops seafood export list

Shrimp replaced catfish as Vietnam’s largest seafood export item in the first half of the year.

Despite a shortage of raw materials, shrimp and catfish processors earned export revenues of $717 million and $650.3 million respectively, up 22 percent and 8.2 percent.

Tuna exports virtually doubled to $147 million.

Total exports were worth slightly more than $2 billion, 11.63 percent up from the same period last year.

The US oil spill and reduced harvests in big seafood exporting countries like India and Thailand scaled down global supply.

Vietnam shipped seafood to 163 foreign markets, with Europe remaining the largest buyer with $515 million followed by Japan with $373.6 million, and the US with $339 million, according to the customs department.

Exports for the whole year are likely to be $4.82 billion, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, up from $4.2 billion last year. – Tuoitre

Tags: Vietnam Seafood, Vietnam seafood exports, Vietnam shrimp exports