The United States imported USD 115.1 million (EUR 101.4 million) worth of pangasius from Vietnam in the first four months of this year, an increase of 7.2 percent year-on-year, according to the latest figures published by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
VASEP also reported that Vietnamese pangasius products have competed strongly with tilapia products in the U.S. market in the first-quarter of this year, accounting for 19 percent of the country’s total import value of whitefish, while tilapia products accounted for 45 percent of the total.
The United States is Vietnam’s No. 1 end-market for its pangasius.
During Q1, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA's) catfish inspection program, which took effect in March this year, as well as high anti-dumping duties have some impact on Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the market, said the association.
Nevertheless, Vietnamese pangasius’ market share in the United States is still large thanks to stable demand and high import price.
In the second-quarter, the Southeast Asian country’s pangasius exports to the market are forecast to increase between 10 to 15 percent compared to Q2 2015.
Overall, Vietnam’s pangasius exports in the first four months of this year increased by 5.2 percent year-on-year to a total of USD 507.5 million (EUR 447.2 million).
Meanwhile, the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) has approved an additional 12 Vietnamese pangasius companies to export to the country, raising the total exporters to 57.
