Vietnam saw its tuna export value jump in April due to recovery of demand in key markets, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
The country shipped tuna worth USD 74 million (EUR 60.6 million) during the month, jumping nearly 50 percent year-on-year. Its tuna exports in the first four months of 2021 are up 15 percent in value to USD 226 million (EUR 185 million) compared to 2020, VASEP said in a 24 May announcement.
Sales of frozen tuna – under the code HS0304 – grew 17 percent year-on-year while sales of processed tuna with code HS16, mainly frozen cooked tuna loins, went up 24 percent year-on-year.
Vietnam's tuna exports to the United States were up 56 percent year-on-year in April. VASEP noted a change in demand among U.S. customers, with processed and canned tuna demand slowing and sales of fresh and frozen tuna on the rise. The increase in demand took place alongside markets gradually reopening their foodservice channels as pandemic pressures eased.
A similar trend was also seen in the E.U. and among Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) markets, where demand for fresh and frozen tuna surged. Vietnam’s tuna export value to the E.U. in April grew 37 percent year-on-year, while sales to the CPTPP countries soared 47 percent from a year ago. The CPTPP includes Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Mexico, Vietnam, Peru, Chile, Brunei, and Malaysia. The pact became effective for Vietnam in January 2019.
From January to April, Vietnam exported its tuna products to 63 markets.
Meanwhile, catches of tuna in Binh Dinh, a key producing province in Vietnam, declined by 10 percent year-on-year to 3,800 metric tons (MT) during January and early May, reported Bnews. The province caught about 12,000 MT of tuna last year.
Vietnam also imports raw tuna for its processing plants.
Photo courtesy of Bui Ngoc Duy An/Vietnam
