December 28, 2004

Vietnamese Aquatic Product Exports Register 6% Increase

Vietnam's export value of aquatic products rose 6 per cent to US$2.35 billion this year, according to the Ministry of Fisheries.

Shrimp remained the largest exports, with approximately 300,000 tons, followed by fish, cuttlefish, octopus and dehydrated products.

Aquatic products were shipped to 80 countries and territories, with the US being the largest market, followed by the European Union, China, and Hong Kong.

Vietnam obtained 1.47 million tons of seafood from netting and 1.35 million tons from aquaculture this year, rising nearly 2.7 per cent and 12.1 per cent from last year, respectively. The country produced 315,000 tons of basa and tra catfish, a 42.9 per cent year-on-year increase.

The country's total aquaculture area reached 1.1 million ha in the year, up 5.3 per cent over 2003.