Tra fish output in the Mekong Delta increased in the first six months of 2015 but export value of tra fish products experienced a downfall, according to Deputy Chairman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Pangasius Association Vo Hung Dung.

Speaking at a press conference in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho on July 7, the deputy chairman said as of June 30, total tra fish output stood at 516,140 tonnes, up 1.22 percent compared to the same period last year.

However, earnings from the export of tra fish products dropped 9.6 percent year on year to 616.6 million USD.

Nevertheless, he added that the monthly export turnover was on a rising trend, and forecast that exports turnover for three quarters is expected to be equivalent to the same period last year.

He underlined significantly changes in markets for the country’s tra fish exports since late 2014, with strong decreases in exports to the EU, slight reduction in the US market while shipments to China and Hong Kong surged by over 42.8 percent.

Exports to the ASEAN market have also posted a positive growth.

Dung attributed the drop in shipments to the EU and the US to a cheaper Euro and stricter technical barriers. The price of tra fish exports also reduced by 5 cent per pound in the US, and anti-dumping measures taken by US organisations caused difficulties to Vietnamese exporters, he said.-VNA