In the previous years, February often witnessed the lowest export volume and value. However, in 2012, the figure skyrocketed by 65.3% to US$422 million, driving the two-month sum to US$784 million, up 13.7% year-on-year.
Seafood export in February staged a strong upsurge as all key export items hit high growth rate. Vannamei prawn export increased 96%, Pangasius 75%, tuna 76.7% and cephalopod 88.7%..
In January, seafood exports to EU, the US, Asean experienced sharp decline while Japan, Canada, Australia also decreased but to a less extend. However, the rapid growth in February helped to compensate the fall in the previous month. As a result, the two-month export to the US surged by 11.5%, Japan 25.3%, Korea 24.4%, China-Hong Kong 25.9% and Mexico 66.2%. Only EU still stayed on the sidelines with 7% drop, of which German suffered the biggest decrease of 21.6% year on year.
In the first two months, shrimp export showed a strong upturn in Malaysia (177.8%), Australia (92%) and Korea (57%) but declined in EU and the US.
Pangasius export registered fast growth in major import markets such as the US 50%, Mexico 62.5%, and Brazil 35.9%. Some smaller buyers such as Hong Kong, Russia, Colombia, Thailand also recorded a significant growth rate. Meanwhile, the import into EU suffered a drop due to economic slowdown, except for Spain with a 7.3% increase.
The economic downturn and increasing technical barriers in EU, Japan, and the US have forced exporters to eye other markets like Australia, Colombia, Brazil, and Israel.
Vietfish - TP