Seafood exports expected to earn US$6.5 billion this year
(VOV) - Vietnam’s seafood export earnings in 2013 are likely to reach US$6.5 billion, an increase of US$300 million against last year’s figure.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) says seafood export turnover already reached roughly US$2.88 billion in the first six months of the year, up 0.9 percent against the same period last year.
Vietnam’s largest seafood importer was the US, making up 20.4 percent of its total turnover.
In the first five months of the year, the country earned US$470.4 million from exporting aquatic products to the US, up 5.5 percent over last year’s figure.
Its aquatic exports to China and Thailand have also grown by 40.6 percent and 22.7 percent respectively, from a year earlier.
VASEP general secretary Truong Dinh Hoe says there are promising prospects for exporting seafood products to the US despite its anti-dumping and anti-subsidy duties against Vietnamese tra fish and shrimp.
From now until the end of this year, domestic businesses hope to enjoy lower interest rates or bank loans.
Deputy Director of the Department of Fisheries Nguyen Huy Dien says the seafood sector is trying its best to achieve the export target of US$6.5 billion.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam says that in the remaining months of the year, the agricultural sector will focus on exporting shrimp to make a higher profit as other nations in the region are facing difficulties in export because of shrimp disease.