The export volume of Vietnamese tra fish to the Japanese market has
risen considerably since March, according to the Vietnam Association of
Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The VASEP said there
has been an increasing demand for Vietnamese tra fish in Japan and,
from January 1 to March 15, tra fish export earnings to this market hit
more than 535,000 USD, up 2.76 percent over the same period last year.

At the recent 38th International Food and Beverage
Exhibition, FOODEX Japan 2013, Vietnamese tra fish drew a lot of
attention from Japanese consumers, who were also keen on frozen fillets.

Last year, Vietnam exported 24,930 tonnes of frozen
fillets to Japan, ranking seventh among the largest exporters
sending the product to the Northeast Asian country.

However, the quality of Vietnamese seafood should be improved to secure a
firm foothold in the demanding Japanese market, which requires the
development of sustainable aquaculture and clear labeling of product
origin.-VNA