Vietnam's tuna exports show strong growth in first quarter

Vietnam has seen solid growth in its tuna exports in the first quarter of this year, with total value reaching US$80 million, an increase of 170% over the same period last year, according to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Of the total export, the US accounted for 4,000 tonnes of tuna worth US$20 million, its highest so far with a 500% rise from last year levels in both quantity and value. In 2009, the Vietnam's tuna exports to the US totalled 19,000 tonnes at US$67 million.

Exports to Japan, Taiwan and Canada markets have increased at least 100% in quantity and value. Vietnamese exporters are now focusing on emerging markets, including the Bahamas and Libya.

However, VASEP said export prices had not been up to expectation.

Fishermen in the provinces of Binh Dinh, Phu Yen and Khanh Hoa have yielded a bumper crop since the beginning of the year. However, most fishermen have not paid attention to the Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing rule set by the European Commission that requires certificates of origin on all seafood consignments.

This has posed some difficulties in the EU seafood market, according to VASEP.

The export turnover to the EU in February was at US$58.8 million, a decrease of 8.7% over the same period last year. However, total export turnover to the EU in the first two months of this year rose 4.5% due to high export volumes in January.

In the first two months of the year, the EU imported 44,400 tonnes of seafood products from Vietnam worth US$128.3 million.

VASEP forecast tuna productivity would soon reduce, driving prices higher.