July 28, 2010

More Vietnam firms export aquatic products to Brazil

The Vietnam Association for Seafood Exporters and Producers has seen a twofold increase in the number of businesses exporting aquatic products to Brazil compared with 2009.

In the first half of the year, Vietnam exported to Brazil 5,800 tonnes of tra fish worth about US$12 million and 18 tonnes of other fresh and frozen fish, equivalent to roughly US$36,900. Brazil is a huge potential market but does not yet attractive to Vietnamese exporters due to risks and low prices, according to tra fish exporters.

As Vietnamese tra fish are competing in price with Brazilian carp, Vietnam's commercial office in Brazil recommends that domestic businesses should ensure the volume and quality of their products when exporting to the South American country.

In the first seven months of 2010, Vietnam exported US$2.45 billion of aquatic products to many other markets, up about 12% over the same period last year, of which shrimp, tra, basa and tuna continue to hold sway.