Tuna exports to EU rocket
Vietnam’s tuna products shipped to the European market rose 31% in the first nine months of this year to US$106 million, while exports to other major markets showed a decline.
According to statistics by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the total export value of Vietnam’s fresh/frozen tuna and tuna fillet products reached nearly US$54 million, showing slight growth of 0.24% year-on-year.
Exports of processed tuna products to the bloc also gained impetus. Between January and September 2013, Vietnam’s canned tuna exports to the market inched up 76% year-on-year while other processed tuna sales scored a staggering gain of 1,565%.
Top five largest importers of Vietnamese tuna in the EU reported positive growth with Germany up 61.8%, Italy 4.8%, Spain 17.8%, the Netherlands 85.9% and the UK 2.37%.
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Portugal and Poland, listed in the top 10 EU importers of Vietnamese tuna, even recorded impressive growth of 243.5% and 491.8% respectively.
However, exports of fresh/frozen tuna and tuna fillet lost momentum in the third quarter, with turnover decreasing by 1% from those reported in the same period of 2012.
Experts said, in the context of the decline of tuna catch, the intensification of processed tuna product export to this market is a smart choice.
Vietnam will find it hard to compete with the Philippines, Thailand and Ecuador when they reach the taxation incentive agreements on tuna exports to the EU.
Besides, the decline in Vietnam’s two large importers (the US and Japan), and the EU’s stricter regulations will also strongly impact on Vietnam’s tuna exports.