Vietnam boosted its seafood export value by 19 percent in June, the fourth month in a row the country has secured an increase, according to latest customs data.
The country exported seafood worth USD 849 million (EUR 648.6 million) in the month, up 18.8 percent year-on-year. The value of exports to most major destinations – including the U.S., Japan and South Korea – rose, but sales to China declined.
The U.S. remained the biggest buyer of seafood from Vietnam in value for the month, importing products worth USD 235.3 million (EUR 150.2 million), a jump of 43.7 percent year-on-year. It was followed by Japan, with USD 127 million (EUR 100.9 million), up 3.8 percent from the same month in 2020; China (excluding Hong Kong) with USD 90.5 million (EUR 78.7 million), dropping 15.7 percent year-on-year; and South Korea with USD 71.3 million (EUR 54.8 million), up 4.7 percent.
Vietnam’s seafood export value increased 14.4 percent to USD 4.12 billion (EUR 2.68 billion) in the first six months.
Key buyers in the period included: the U.S. with an export value of USD 902.2 million (EUR 547.3 million), soaring 38 percent year-on-year; Japan with USD 679 million (EUR 453.2 million), up slightly 0.9 percent year-on-year; China with USD 438.4 million (EUR 286 million), contracting 7.8 percent; and South Korea with USD 365.9 million (EUR 241.8 million), up 4.2 percent from the same period in 2020.
Other major destinations comprised the U.K. with sales value of USD 147.5 million (EUR 96 million), 5.2 percent higher year-on-year; Thailand with USD 132.8 million (EUR 90.9 million), jumping 24.8 percent from the first half of 2020; Australia with USD 130 million (EUR 87.1 million), a growth of 59.7 percent year-on-year; and Canada with USD 127.8 million (EUR 82.4 million), up 18.3 percent, the data showed.
The export activities in July, however, are facing hurdles along with soaring freight rates and domestic transport disruptions arising from heightened safety measures the country has implemented to contain a new COVID-19 outbreak.
Photo courtesy of VASEP
