Processing tuna for export (Photo: VNA) Customsstatistics showed tuna export value leaped 108 percent year-on-year in Januaryto 88 million USD. The rate slowed down in February but still at a high 57percent and a value of 67 million USD, almost double the figure in February2019 when the COVID-19 pandemic had not started.
The growth in March remained stable, pushing the export earnings for the firstquarter to over 230 million USD, up 53 percent on a yearly basis.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producer (VASEP) the goodgrowth of tuna export to the industry’s success in utilizing tax advantages inEuropean and Asia-Pacific markets created by free trade agreements to whichVietnam is a member, such as the Vietnam-EU FTA (EVFTA) and the Comprehensiveand Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP).
This can be seen in the strong increases in exports to EU and CPTPP markets,such as Belgium (163 percent), the Netherlands (114 percent), Chile (99percent) and Canada (52 percent. The Netherlands has risen from the fourthplace to the top position among European importers of Vietnamese tuna.
The growing trend is expected to continue for tuna export to Europe thanks to strongeconomic recovery that stimulates demand. Besides, tax preferential treatmentsunder the EVFTA also create an impetus for the export.
Besides foreign markets, tuna producers are also looking to tap into thedomestic market, where demand for tuna products is rising. Domestic sales willhelp the tuna sector reduce its dependence on foreign markets, thus better adaptingto socio-economic fluctuations./.
VNA
