Aquatic product exports plunge during social distancing

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – Production and exports of aquatic products have been hard hit by social distancing measures in place for the past two months in 19 southern localities.

Orders to ship aquatic products to the US and European markets may not be fulfilled as processing plants cannot run at full capacity due to COVID-19 preventive measures.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), exports to such markets in August plunged between 16 percent and 50 percent against the same period last year.

Shipments to China and Japan decreased 36 percent, to the Netherlands nearly 50 percent and Germany 42 percent.

Export turnover hit 588 million USD in August, posting a year-on-year decline of about 28 percent.

The January-August exports were valued at 5.6 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 7.1 percent.

The Government has issued a resolution which assigns relevant agencies to promptly address bottlenecks for firms and aquatic product exporters in particular, and support them in meeting requirements of export orders./.