Seafood export is expected to reach 6.5 billion USD this year, a rise of 5 percent from 2012.
The forecast was made by Deputy President of the Vietnam Association
of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEF) Nguyen Huu Dung.
Shrimp export is expected to value at 2.2 billion USD, equal to that of
last year, while tra fish export is predicted to bring in 1.9 billion
USD, up 5.5 percent.
The export of other seafood products is expected to rise by 10 percent to 2.4 billion USD.
Dung said that the export of fish and seafood to major markets is
expected to recover in the second quarter of this year after a drop of 8
percent in turnover in the first quarter.
Exports to the
European market are expected to total 1.2 billion USD, up 5.3 percent
over last year. Meanwhile, exports to the US are estimated to exceed
1.3 billion USD, up 9 percent.
The testing on shrimp for
the preservative ethoxyquin before they are imported to Japan is also
expected to be removed. Meanwhile, demands for fish and seafood products
from China, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN countries are
forecast to increase.
The VASEP official said that this year,
aquaculture will face a lack of capital, rising input costs and
challenges related to technical barriers and food hygiene and safety
standards.
“Shrimp production would continue to suffer until
the emerging early mortality syndrome ( EMS ) is brought under
control,” he said, adding that although seafood output levels are
stable, quality has not yet seen much improvement.
The prices of imported raw materials are expected to increase by 20 percent from last year.
Fish and seafood export turnover last year was reported at 6.12
billion USD, only equal to 94.2 percent of the goal and that of 2011.-VNA