Vietnam’s pangasius exports achieved a total value of USD 371.2 million (EUR 331.7 million) in the first-quarter of this year, an increase of 1.6 percent compared to the corresponding period of 2016.
The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported a considerable shift in the importing market structure, with China buying 56.8 percent more pangasius than a year previously. There were also increased shipments to Brazil, Mexico and Saudi Arabia in Q1 2017 of 70.4 percent, 38.8 percent and 13.8 percent respectively. At the same time, though, exports to the U.S., EU and ASEAN markets fell by 24.3 percent, 21.5 percent and 10.8 percent respectively.
In the first three months of this year, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to China amounted to USD 69.7 million (EUR 62.3 million), making it the No.1 market for the product. The United States and EU, meanwhile, accounted for sales of USD 61 million (EUR 54.5 million) and USD 49.9 million (EUR 44.6 million) respectively.
VASEP said that the U.S. trade has been hindered this year by the high anti-dumping tax and other technical barriers, while in EU markets, pangasius faces considerable competition from other whitefish species.
In Q1 2017, Vietnam’s top five pangasius exporting companies comprised Vinh Hoan Corp., Bien Dong Seafood, Navico, Hung Vuong Corp. and IDI Corp. Combined, they achieved a sales value of USD 140.4 million (EUR 125.4 million) and accounted for 37.8 percent of total exports.
Last year, Vietnam’s pangasius exporters achieved sales totaling USD 1.7 billion (EUR 1.5 billion) in 2016, an increase of 9.6 percent compared with 2015. In 2017, these exports are forecast to increase by a further 5 percent.
The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) stated that pangasius output in the Mekong Delta totaled 1.19 million metric tons (MT), with a farming area of more than 5,500 hectares. In 2017, the area for pangasius farming is expected to increase slightly to 5,600 hectares with a yield of 1.2 million MT.
