May 16, 2018
Vietnam's pangasius exports up 18% in 1st quarter
Vietnamese pangasius exports reached US$438.2 million in the first quarter, up 18% year-on-year.
The top three markets during the quarter were Hong Kong (up 45%), the US (up 22.7%) and ASEAN (up 56.5%), according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
By the end of March, the value of pangasius exported to Hong Kong hit $101.1 million, accounting for 23% of the first-quarter total exports. Exports of pangasius to this market are forecast to continue to grow due to its high demand, VASEP said.
Pangasius export value to the US, the second-largest market, reached nearly $75 million, accounting for 17% of total pangasius exports in the first three months.
Exports of pangasius to the 10-nation ASEAN, the third-largest market, also increased strongly in the first quarter, reaching $46.7 million.
Vietnam's three biggest pangasius importers in the bloc were Thailand, Singapore, and the Philippines.
Exports of the product to the EU, another major market, continued to decline, by 17.7% to $41 million.
VASEP predicts that ASEAN will overtake the US to become Vietnam's second-largest pangasius buyer if only because exports of pangasius to the US would continue to face high anti-dumping duty.