July 25, 2008

Russia has now become the third largest importer of Vietnamese pangasius catfish after importing a surprisingly large amount of the fish in the first half of 2008, according to Vietnam Association of Seafood Importers and Producers (VASEP).

Vietnam exported 44,649 tonnes of pangasius catfish valued at US$73.8 million to Russia as of late June.

Pangasius export revenues from Russia represented more than 12 percent of Vietnam's total export earnings from tra and basa catfish in the first half of 2008, VASEP said.

In the same period, Vietnam also exported 9,464 tonnes of pangasius worth US$16.4 million to Ukraine.

However, tra and basa catfish remain key seafood export items for Vietnam, bringing in US$610 million from exporting 260,000 tonnes in the first half of 2008.

Catfish exports accounted for more than 32 percent of Vietnam's total seafood export value, which was US$1.89 billion.

The EU and Japan are the biggest seafood importers of Vietnam.