Shrimp exports have risen especially sharply in the second half of the year after an earlier decline caused by the global economic crisis.

The country exported 19,000 tonnes worth US$148 million in June alone, up 13.5 percent year-on-year in terms of volume and 3.9 percent in value, said the Vietnam Association for Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).

Tra and basa fish exports to many markets also picked up.

In July, 75,000 tonnes were shipped, the largest monthly export volume this year. Exports are expected to top US$640 million during the rest of the year, taking total tea and basa fish exports to US$1.25 billion.

The coming months are likely to see increasing demand for seafood in key export markets, said Vietnamese trade offices abroad.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade is urging exporters to stockpile clams and export to the US tuna for and shrimp and squid for shipping to Japan and the EU.

Overall exports in the first seven months have been 632,000 tonnes worth US$2.2 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 9 percent, according to VASEP.

VNA