July 28, 2011

Vietnam's H1 pangasius fish exports reach US$828.6 million

Vietnam's pangasius fish exports grew 4.9% from a year ago to US$828.6 million in the first half of this year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The association said the export volume was up 27% on-year, but it did not give the exact figure.

The average export price in June was US$$2.79 a kilogram compared to US$2.15 a year earlier.

Exports to the US have rocketed this year, nearly doubling to more than US$118 million by June 15. Exports to South American countries and Asean members were also sharply up, including a 137% rise in shipments to Brazil, and 42% to Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines.

Speaking at a meeting held in Can Tho last week, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Vu Van Tam said the production and consumption of pangasius fish in the first half had exceeded targets.

Tam praised the sector's efforts to improve the product quality rather than quantity and the close co-operation between farmers and processors.

By the end of June the area under pangasius fish farms had risen by 385 ha on-year to 3,980 ha. Of this, 1,933 ha have been harvested, yielding 597,324 tonnes.