August 15, 2013

 

 

As supplies from world leading shrimp producers, including Thailand, have become limited due to epidemics, there are opportunities for Vietnam to boost shrimp exports in the second half of 2013.

 

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP),Vietnam exported US$1.1 billion worth of shrimp in the first half of 2013, a rise of 8.6% compared with the same period last year.

 

The value of Vietnamese shrimp exports to Japan in the first six months of 2013 reached US$293.9 million, up 6.6% compared with the same period last year. Although this is a modest growth rate, it promised optimistic changes in the export of Vietnamese shrimp to Japan after more than one year coping with the Ethoxyquin barrier.

 

Shrimp exports to the US grew 22.4%, reaching US$252.3 million thanks to strong increases (58.2%) in May and June (39.1%).

 

Shrimp exports to China and Hong Kong (China) reached US$146.9 million, up 33.7%. This year, China is considered as one of the important export markets for Vietnamese shrimp in the context of difficulties facing other markets such as the US, Japan and the EU.

 

In 2013, early mortality syndrome (EMS) led to a strong decline in the shrimp output of many countries, including major shrimp producers in Asia, resulting in supply shortages in the world market.

 

One of the nations which have suffered the heaviest damage due to EMS is Thailand. The president of the Thai Shrimp Association predicted that Thai shrimp exports in 2013 would slump by 50% compared with previous years. This has been one of the worst crises to face the Thai shrimp industry. Thailand's shrimp output in 2013 is predicted to halve compared with 500,000-600,000 tonnes of previous years.

 

According to VASEP Secretary General Truong Dinh Hoe, Vietnamese shrimp farmers must be cautious of the information that Thailand may import shrimp from Vietnam. Thailand has suffered shrimp shortages but if it focuses efforts on breeding, the situation will soon improve and the shortages would be unlikely to continue.

 

VASEP said due to supply shortages in the world market, shrimp importers would accept buying at higher prices. This would provide favourable conditions for Vietnam to promote shrimp exports. In addition, Vietnamese shrimp exporters must predict price changes in the world market so that they can take the initiative in transactions.

 

The Vietnamese shrimp sector has seen optimistic signals in terms of price and export markets.