July 20, 2006

Vietnam almost doubles seafood exports to EU for first half of 2006

Vietnam earned US $374 million from seafood exports to the European Union in the first half of the year, an on-year increase of almost 90 percent, according to the Ministry of Fisheries.

Exports to Eastern Europe rose sharply, according to the ministry.

Seafood exports to Russia increased 5 times to US $61 million. Ukraine and Poland also saw increases of 18 times (US$7 million) and 13 times respectively.

Total seafood exports increased 25 percent on-year and fetched US$1.34 billion for Vietnam for the first six months of the year.

Other major importers of Vietnamese seafood are the US, Japan, China and South Korea. Over 170 Vietnamese companies export to the EU market and 30 more are expected over the next few months.