Vietnam earned more than USD 1.5 billion (EUR 1.3 billion) from its shrimp exports in the first-half of this year, an increase of 15.7 percent, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).
The new export total comprised estimated earnings of USD 955 million (EUR 814.1 million) from Vietnam’s whiteleg shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) trade, up 20.4 percent, while revenues from its black tiger shrimp black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) exports fell 5.3 percent to USD 421 million (EUR 358.9 million).
Thanks to the growth of its shrimp shipments, the total value of Vietnam’s seafood exports increased by 14.6 percent to USD 3.6 billion (EUR 3.1 billion) for the six-month period.
VASEP confirmed Japan had replaced the United States as the leading importer of Vietnamese shrimp, claiming that high demand and improved quality had boosted the trade.
The association also said that Vietnam’s shrimp exports are forecast to keep growing in the second-half of the year, especially during the Christmas and New Year holidays.
For the whole year, Vietnam’s exports are forecast to reach USD 3.4 billion (EUR 2.9 billion), up 9 percent compared to last year.
The country’s total shrimp harvest is expected to increase slightly to 660,000 metric tons (MT) this year.
