March 12, 2007

Vietnam seafood exports post gains in January, February 2007
 

Vietnam earned US$450 million from seafood exports in the first two months of this year - a year-on-year increase of 42 percent, according to the Vietnam Ministry of Fisheries.

In February alone, the country earned US$220 million from seafood exports, said Nguyen Viet Thang, fishery deputy minister.

This month, the country exported 48,780 tonnes of seafood, including 8,600 tonnes of frozen shrimp, 4,380 tonnes of cuttlefish and octopus and 27,000 tonnes of fish.

The Ministry said many seafood processors had raised production capacity to meet export-contract demands, leading to a shortage of certain kinds of seafood - particularly tra and basa catfish, which processors have been buying for between VND16,500 (US$1.03) and VND16,800 (US$1.04) a kilo.

To meet this year's fisheries' targets, the Ministry has called on domestic seafood producers to boost exports and expand domestic markets. It has also advised them to participate more in domestic and foreign trade fairs, conduct more market research and enhance quality control standards and food hygiene.