Tuna export revenue surges 21%

Việt Nam exports tuna to 97 countries and territories around the world. — Photo tuoitre

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s tuna export turnover has risen 21 per cent year-on-year to hit US$271 million in the first half of 2017.

Sharing export details, the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that tuna fillet brought in the most revenue, accounting for around 48 per cent of total tuna exports, followed by canned tuna (30 per cent) and other processed tuna (15 per cent).

The country exports tuna to 97 countries and territories, with the United States, the European Union (EU), Israel, Japan, Canada, China, Mexico and the ASEAN being its key markets. Collectively, these countries accounted for 88 per cent of Việt Nam’s total tuna export value in the first six months of this year.

Notably, tuna shipments to Mexico rose 125 per cent, with the country overtaking Canada and China to become Việt Nam’s sixth largest tuna importer.

However, despite this impressive growth, tuna exports are encountering difficulties related to raw materials and import duties in some of the key markets.

The VASEP has proposed to the Directorate of Fisheries, under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, to promote and develop purse seine fishing.

The association has also suggested that the ministry and the directorate work together with the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) to finalise an agreement with the EU on a quota for tuna exports to the market.

The VASEP has requested the MoIT to consider eliminating tariff on tuna exports to Japan as Thailand and the Philippines have done, to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese products