Workers process tra fish at Sao Mai Corp's factory in An Giang Province. Tra fish export to the UK increased six-fold. (Photo:VNA) Seafood exports were expected to rake in nearly 5.8 billion USD for Vietnam in the first six months, up almost 40% year-on-year.
Most seafood products witnessed high export growth rates in the first half,of which tra (pangasius) fish led the groupwith an estimated value of 1.43 billion USD, up 83.2%, accounting forone-fourth of total seafood export value.
Tuna and crustaceans followed withexport value at 553.5 million USD and110 million USD, or increases of55.7 USD and 54.5 USD year on year, respectively.
Shrimp export, the biggest seafood productexport, which brought in 2.3 USD billion, grew 33% during the period.
Export to UK soars
Tra fish exports to the UK increased six-fold in the first half of this year,VASEP reported,
According to VASEP, the sudden decline in the amount of white fish in theUK due to increased import taxes on Russian exports during the Russia-Ukraineconflict has pushed up the price of seafood. UK importers are struggling tofind alternative products, which is a good opportunity for Vietnamese tra fishexporters to boost their market share.
The opportunity became bigger after the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA), which officially came intoforce on May 1, 2021, slashes the UK's import tax to zero%.
In addition, after Brexit, due to the fishing complex between the UK andthe EU, the UK has been increasing its direct import from producing countries,including Vietnam.
Vietnam exported various white fish products to the UK, ranging from frozenpangasius fillet, frozen pangasius strip cut, frozen pre-fried breadedpangasius, and frozen pangasius portion cut braised pangasius and frozenpangasius skewers among others.
In May, six more Vietnamese tra fish processing factories were grantedaccess to the US market, which is also the premise for the growth of thisproduct in the UK and other needs.
Vietnam accounts for 90-94% ofthe pangasius market share in the world. Information from domestic seafoodexporters has shown currently, tra processing factories are running at totalcapacity to serve export orders.
However, to effectively exploit the UKVFTA to increase export to the UK,VASEP recommends that exporters and farmers strictly comply with regulations ontraceability and control seafood quarantine, ensuring food safety throughoutthe preservation and processing chain./.
VNA
