Fisheries exports grow by 6% in H1

Key items such as shrimp, pangasius and tuna did well, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said in its latest report.

Pangasius accounted for $918 million and tuna for $472 million, up 5% and 23%. Shrimp fetched $1.6 billion, a 6% increase, while exports of other crustaceans jumped by 75% to $125 million.

The U.S. and EU imported 18% and 56% more tuna. Shrimp exports to China and the EU rose by 17% and 13%.

Top shrimp exporter Minh Phu said profits for the first half were VND7.2 billion (US$284,000) as against a loss of VND98 billion in the same period last year.

Its CEO, Le Van Quang, said the company has been receiving more orders than last year and is planning to boost exports to China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, and New Zealand.

Businesses are optimistic that seafood exports, especially of green and sustainable products, will grow even more in the coming months.

But the seafood association said some challenges remain, such as fierce competition from Ecuador and India, rising transport costs and a shortage of raw materials for processing.