December 27, 2006

Vietnam seafood exports up in 2006

Vietnam's seafood export turnovers are estimated to reach US$3.4 billion this year, up over 25.9 percent against last year, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said Tuesday.

The country is set to earn US$661 million from exporting 250,000 tonnes of catfish to 65 countries and regions this year, up from US$ 328 million last year.

Vietnam has set targets of posting annual seafood export growth of over 9 percent in the 2006-2010 period, and seafood export turnovers of US$4 billion to US$4.5 billion in 2010.

The Ministry of Fisheries has put forth six measures relating to market, material, processing, processing safety and hygiene, fishery promotion and training, and policy development to further corner a sizeable chunk in the international seafood market. The country traditionally exports to Japan, United States, European Union and Russia and has cornered new markets such as the Middle East, East Europe, Africa, South and South America.

The association said Vietnam will focus in increasing the quality and promotion of their top-notch seafood exports such as shrimps, prawns, catfish, cuttlefish and will tap other seafood items that can also be export winners.