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VN eyes position of the world’s second seafood exporter

VGP - For the first seven months, the total seafood export turnover saw the ever-highest figure within the last three years, reaching nearly US $2.4 billion, up 20% against the same period of 2007, said the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP).

August 22, 2008 10:46 AM GMT+7

This year target of US $4.25 billion from seafood export is within reach

Frozen shrimps and tra and basa catfish continued to be two main products, accounting for 32.8% (US $784 million) and 31.9% (US $763 million).
Besides the main markets of the US, EU, Japan, and Republic of Korea, Vietnamese seafood products have been making their way into such potential markets as Russia and Ukraine. In July alone, seafood export turnover to Russia reached over US $38 million, 64 times higher over the same period last year, bringing the total first-seven-month seafood export value to this country to US $123 million, a 93% increase. Now, Russia ranks fifth among Việt Nam's biggest seafood importers.
According to a senior official of VASEP, with the current export growth rate, the whole year target of US $4.25-billion export turnover is completely feasible.
VASEP has just asked the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to increase the import of seafood inputs as it stated that if spending US $1-2 billion to import seafood materials, Việt Nam can earn US $1.8-3.5 billion more in its annual seafood export value, occupying the second position right after China.
VASEP also suggested the Government impose the import tax rate of 0-0.5% on seafood inputs.

By Quang Minh