Vietnam seafood in 2019 builds export target of 10 billion USD

The Vietnamese seafood industry aims to export US $ 10 billion in 2019 and at the same time finish treating antibiotics in seafood.

That is the information given at the Conference on deploying seafood export plan in 2019, organized by Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) in Ho Chi Minh City recently.

Expect new growth

To achieve this goal, Mr. Ngo Van Ich, Chairman of VASEP said that the fisheries sector needs to overcome some difficulties such as active source of raw materials, synchronous control of the production process of raw materials from the quality of breeds, applications. dealing with trade barriers such as European anti-dumping tax on catfish and IUU yellow card.

The fisheries sector has set a target for high export growth in 2019

According to Mr. Ich, it is necessary to increase the competitiveness, reduce the price of raw shrimp, reduce the price of inputs, solve the problem of antibiotic chemicals in aquatic products and 4 common diseases in farmed shrimp, increase exporting shrimp to fastidious markets like Japan, EU, Australia, responding to and handling chemicals, antibiotics and impurities, taking advantage of Vietnam and Europe free trade agreements, consolidating , expanding international certification forms, creating consumer confidence in markets …

VASEP also informed, 2018 witnessed many ups and downs of key export seafood products of Vietnam, while pangasius export turnover increased dramatically, reaching nearly 2.3 billion USD, increasing to 26%, while shrimp exports are not expected to reach only 3.6 billion USD, down 8% compared to 2017. This is also the year that the seafood exploitation and processing industry faces many obstacles in increasing prices. export value due to the IUU yellow card from Europe. However, in 2019, Vietnam’s seafood industry is expected to have many opportunities to regain growth momentum.

Specifically, pangasius is gradually asserting its position in many big markets, can maintain impressive export turnover from 2018. The US market is still a big import market of Vietnamese seafood, with export turnover reached more than USD 1.6 billion, up 15%. Exported shrimp products are also expected to rebound thanks to the US anti-dumping tax rate in the 12th administrative review period (POR12) lower than POR11.

Besides, since the beginning of 2019, the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (CPTPP) has officially entered into force with Vietnam. Therefore, almost all of Vietnam’s exports, including seafood to CPTPP member countries, will be completely eliminated. In addition, Vietnam – EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is also being actively promoted by members to come into practice soon.

In order to bring the export turnover of the whole fishery sector to USD 10 billion in 2019, Vasep has built specific targets for each item. In particular, the shrimp industry must have a breakthrough export growth of 4.2 billion USD; Pangasius industry with the advantage of being exported will reach USD 2.3 billion; At the same time, with the efforts to remove the IUU gold card, Vietnam’s seafood industry can achieve export milestone of 3.5 billion USD in 2019.

Develop reasonable strategies

Mr. Truong Dinh Hoe – Secretary General of VASEP optimistic that Vietnam seafood industry will take advantage of tariff preferences to continue to grow and export turnover can achieve the target of 10 billion USD.

However, the seafood industry is also facing many challenges in terms of raw materials, competitiveness and market barriers … According to Hoe, in the short term, it is necessary to definitely solve the problem of antibiotics in aquatic products product; At the same time, it is necessary to develop a reasonable farming development strategy, improve processing technology and promote exports.

Actively source of raw materials is considered a great strength for Vietnamese seafood enterprises

Chairman of VASEP Truong Thi Le Khanh’s freshwater fish committee also said that in 2018, seafood export has had unexpected success, many products are always in a state of insufficient demand. From June onwards, exports continued to increase, selling prices also increased. According to Ms Khanh, this year enterprises are facing many challenges of lack of raw materials, lack of breeding fish (especially in off-season), while demand for export is increasing strongly. The shortage of seed will continue until March and April. Therefore, to solve this problem, the industry must have solutions for off-season reproduction. At the same time, say no to antibiotics to have a chance to bring products to foreign markets with high prices.

In fact, the active source of raw materials is considered a great strength for businesses in general, especially seafood processing and exporting enterprises. However, the maintenance of raw materials of Vietnamese enterprises is currently not really good due to the impacts of climate change, saline intrusion, diseases that are not well controlled, leading to a shortage of materials.