July 21, 2011

Vietnam's tuna exports increase in H1

Vietnam's 43,430 tonnes of tuna exports from January-June this year earn US$220 million, rising 10.1% in quantity and 33.1% in value, Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said.

VASEP expert Nguyen Minh Tam said that tuna exports to Iran had reached high growth rates in both volume and value, but average prices based on these exports were still lower than those associated with the top 10 largest importers of Vietnamese tuna.

In the first six months of 2011, Iran imported 4,565 tonnes of Vietnamese tuna, valued at nearly US$7 million, an increase of 347% in volume and 435% in value.

Tuna exported to Norway also shot up, reaching 4,000 tonnes, valued at US$15.3 million, an increase of 20.2%.

Average export prices during the first six months of the year hit US$4.16/kg, 20% higher than last year.

Meanwhile, tuna exports to the US remained stable at 1,000 tonnes, valued at US$6.5 million, an increase of 40.4% in value and 19.6% in volume.

Vietnam managed to export 840 tonnes of tuna, valued at US$3 million, to the EU. During June, tuna exports to Germany accounted for 40% of the country's total export turnover, making it Vietnam's largest partner in the European market with the average export prices set at over US$3/kg, a 13% increase compared to the US$2.68/kg of last year.