Seafood exports to hit US$6.5 billion
(VOV) -Vietnam is expected to earn US$6.5 billion from seafood exports by the end of 2013, representing a year-on-year increase of 5 percent.
Nguyen Huu Dung, Deputy Head of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), says that shrimp exports will fetch US$2.2 billion, equivalent to last year’ figure, while Tra fish exports are forecast to generate US$1.9 billion, up 5.5 percent over the previous year.
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The export value of other seafood products is likely to rake in US$2.4 billion, up 10 percent compared to 2012.
Dung is optimistic about the recovery of major seafood importers in the second half of 2013, including the European Union (EU) and the US, from which Vietnam will see slight increases in export turnover to US$1.2 billion (up 5.3 percent) and US$1.3 billion (up 9 percent), respectively.
Shrimp exports to the Japanese market should also record positive results, he says highlighting the rising demand for seafood in other markets, such as China, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Southeast Asia, South America, Africa and the Middle East.
According to the VASEP official, the seafood export sector will have to face a number of challenges in 2013, such as technical barriers, strict food hygiene and safety standards, capital shortages, and rising costs of input materials.
He stresses the need to devise appropriate zoning plans for aquaculture breeding areas, increase seafood quality, reduce anti-biotic residue, apply modern technologies, protect the environment and create closer links along value chains.
Dung voices his concern about tough competition in the global market and other issues related to anti-dumping prices in the US. To corner the market, he says, local exporters should increase their competitiveness, set up reliable distribution networks and develop product trademarks.