Processing tra fish for exports (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Associationof Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has forecast that tra fish exportsto the EU will increase by 20-35 percent in 2019.
Last year, tra fish exports to the EU bouncedback after declining from 2010 to 2017.
From January 1 to May 15 this year, tra fishexports to the EU reached 105.2 million USD, up 31.5 percent against the sameperiod of 2018.
The growth was largely attributed to four markets,namely the Netherlands, the UK, Germany and Belgium.
From the beginning of the year to mid-May, trafish exports to the Netherlands rose by 12.2 percent, the UK 59.4 percent,Germany 61.6 percent and Belgium 63.8 percent.
In the period, tra fish was listed among themost popular white fish in Europe, making up 9 percent of the region’s whitefish market. Each year, the EU consumes nearly 3 million tonnes of white fish,89 percent of which is imported.
In the near future, with tax advantages from theEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), tra fish exports to the EU areexpected to see positive growth.
Demand for tra fish imports from central andeastern European countries is also increasing. A large proportion of tra fishimported by the Netherlands and Germany has been shipped to central and easternEuropean nations which do not have big import ports.
Tra fish products labeled by the AquacultureStewardship Council (ASC) are likely to be favoured in the European market.
To secure a firm foothold in the market, the trafish sector needs to strengthen the management and control of food quality andsafety, experts suggested.-VNA
VNA
