Is Russia's increase in imports of Vietnamese fish a false dawn?

Falling export numbers for Vietnam's fish industry takes a positive upswing with some Russian help, but doubts linger.

Vietnam's tra and basa exports to Russia increased sharply in the first half of November, hitting 3,085 tonnes and earning US$5.09 million, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

This is an optimistic sign after exports have been dropping for the past 7 consecutive months, say VASEP. By mid-November this year, Russia had imported over 39,000 tonnes of Vietnamese tra and basa fish, worth US$63.65 million, down by 63 percent from a year earlier.

Although Russia is a huge potential market, the VASEP has warned seafood export businesses to be wary as the market changes quickly and could be volatile.