Vietnam’s export value of tuna rebounded year-on-year in November after sliding in October and September, with sales rising in several major markets, but not the European Union and Canada.
Data from Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) on 26 December showed that Vietnam earned USD 59 million (EUR 53.2 million) from exports of tuna in November, up 5.3 percent from the same month last year. The rise came after year-on-year declines of 6.4 percent and 2.4 percent in October and September, respectively.
The value of exports to the United States, the biggest destination for tuna from Vietnam, saw a jump of 15.6 percent against November 2018, VASEP said.
The U.S. imported more volumes of frozen yellowfin tuna from Vietnam in the month, with prices of frozen yellowfin tuna loins ranging from USD 7.04 to USD 10.73 (EUR 6.35 to EUR 9.7) per kilogram and frozen yellowfin tuna steaks of between USD 7.04 to USD 12.87 (EUR 6.35 to EUR 11.6) per kilogram.
Sales to countries in Southeast Asia rose nearly 114 percent year-on-year in November, the highest growth among major markets, mainly because the value earned from exports to Thailand soared 98 percent from a year earlier.
The value of tuna exports to Japan, which largely imports frozen bigeye tuna loins and tuna pet food from Vietnam, surged 58 percent year-on-year in November.
Sales to the E.U., however, dropped 7.7 percent year-on-year in the month. Despite the decrease, VASEP said the value of exports to key markets in the bloc saw a positive sign in November with the increase of 3.7 percent in Spain, 38.8 percent in Italy, and 31.4 percent in the Netherlands.
The average price of frozen cooked yellowfin tuna loins exported to Spain in November was USD 4.79 (EUR 4.32) per kilogram and the rate for tuna steaks exported to Italy was average USD 4.12 (EUR 3.71) per kilogram.
The value of tuna exports to Canada witnessed a slump of 23 percent year-on-year in November.
Exports to China and Israel also saw a decline in the month, VASEP added.
Photo courtesy of Renata Apanaviciene/Shutterstock
