US biggest buyer of Vietnamese seafood

The U.S. bought nearly 1.1 billion worth of seafood in Jan-May, up 65 percent year-on-year, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

It was the biggest buyer of Vietnamese shrimp and second biggest buyer (behind China) of pangasius fish.

Shrimp exports to the U.S. rose 32 percent year-on-year to $390 million.

Pangasius fish exports to the U.S. has surged 131 percent year-on-year on the back of a drop in home production and an increase in the number of Vietnamese exporters allowed to sell to the U.S., VASEP said.

Exports of tuna to the U.S. doubled year-on-year to $251 million.

Vietnam’s seafood exports to the U.S. is set to reach $2.4-2.5 billion this year, up 25 percent from last year, VASEP estimates.