July 24, 2018

Opportunities for chicken exports to Japan rise for Vietnam

As Japanese consumer demands for processed chicken rises, there will be growing opportunities for Vietnam's animal husbandry sector, said experts.

In late 2017, Koyu & Unitek Co. Ltd, a Vietnamese poultry slaughtering and processing services company, installed two additional processing lines to increase capacity and diversify products for export. Up till July this year, the company has shipped 600 tonnes of meat to Japan.

Earlier, CP Vietnam Jsc and Leow Casing Vietnam Ltd Co. also submitted their export plans and has requested for the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Department of Animal Health to negotiate with the Japanese Department of Animal Heath on exporting processed chicken and hotdog cases made from lamb and pig guts to Japan.

On May 14, Japan delivered its approval for vet hygiene conditions and quarantine certificates for processed chicken meat and the hotdog cases in a letter sent to the Vietnamese Department of Animal Health.

Additionally, a delegation of the Japanese Department of Animal Health took a fact-finding trip from May 27 – June 2 to Vietnamese processors whose products are suitable for the Japanese market.

During the visit, Koyu & Unitek was permitted to expand poultry meat and processed products exports to Japan from June 15 onwards. CP Vietnam and Leow Casing's applications are still being processed.

In view of its boosting poultry export industry, the Deputy head of the Vietnamese Department of Animal Health, Dam Xuan Thanh, shared that more support will be given to pork manufacturing chains to prevent epidemics such as foot-and-mouth disease and hog cholera.

"The department will also promote trade and work with authorities in China, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Australia, Russia, Mexico and Saudi Arabia to lift bans on importing animals and their products," Dam added.