Seafood exports from Vietnam saw a slight recovery in July, primarily supported by a surge in the export value gained from the United States, according to latest data from Vietnam Customs.
In the month, Vietnam exported seafood products worth USD 796.3 million (EUR 673.6 million), up 0.8 percent from USD 790.2 million (EUR 668.4 million) a year ago.
The U.S. became the largest buyer of seafood from Vietnam in July, with a sales value of USD 184.4 million (EUR 156 million), rising 20.8 percent year-on-year; followed by Japan, with USD 119 million (EUR 100 million), 8.5 percent lower than a year earlier; and China, with USD 113.3 million (EUR 95.8 million), down 5 percent year-on-year.
Vietnam’s seafood export value, however, still fell 6 percent to nearly USD 4.4 billion (EUR 3.7 billion) in the first seven months as local exporters found it difficult to boost shipments this year due to the spread of the coronavirus.
Leading markets for the seafood exports from Vietnam in the period included the U.S., with a sales value of USD 838.4 million (EUR 709 million), up 4.5 percent; Japan, with USD 788.8 million (EUR 667.2 million), down 2.6 percent; and China, with USD 590.6 million (EUR 500 million), down 1.1 percent year-on-year.
The other important destinations during January-July were South Korea, with the export value of USD 422.6 million (EUR 357.5 million), down 4.1 percent; Canada, with USD 129.8 million (EUR 110 million), up 10.3 percent; the U.K., with USD 181.7 million (EUR 153.7 million), up 17.8 percent; and the Netherlands, with USD 117 million (EUR 99 million), down 7.9 percent year-on-year, the data showed.
Meanwhile, Vietnam imported seafood worth USD 149 million (EUR 126 million) in July, down 13.6 percent from the same month last year. Most of the imports came from India, with USD 23.7 million (EUR 20 million), up 62.3 percent year-on-year; Japan, with USD 18.7 million (EUR 15.8 million), soaring 58.5 percent; and Norway, with USD 15.8 million (EUR 13.4 million), down 35 percent.
In the first seven months, the country imported seafood worth USD 994 million (EUR 841 million), 5.5 percent lower year-on-year. Of the total value, the India market accounted for USD 137 million (EUR 116 million), up 11.5 percent, followed by Norway with USD 117.7 million (EUR 100 million), down 8.3 percent, and Japan with USD 101.5 million (EUR 86 million), up 31.8 percent.
The COVID-19 pandemic has negatively affected the seafood exports from Vietnam this year, challenging the country’s export target of USD 10 billion (EUR 8.5 billion) set in early 2020. The Southeast Asia nation has recorded 929 coronavirus cases and 21 deaths as of 14 August. The second wave of the outbreak in July, following more than 100 days without any transmission in the community, has seen the deadly virus spread to many other provinces and cities.
Photo courtesy of Huy Thoai/Shutterstock
