Seafood exports are expected to reach US$ 6.5 billion this year, a rise of 5 per cent from 2012. The forecast was made by Deputy President of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Nguyen Huu Dung.
Shrimp exports are expected to value at $ 2.2 billion, equal to that of last year, while tra fish exports are predicted to bring in $ 1.9 billion, up 5.5 per cent.
The export of other seafood products are expected to rise by 10 per cent to $ 2.4 billion. Dung said that the export of fish and seafood to major markets were expected to recover in the second quarter of this year after a drop of 8 per cent in turnover in the first quarter.
Exports to the European market are expected to total $ 1.2 billion, up 5.3 per cent over last year. Meanwhile, exports to the US are estimated to exceed $ 1.3 billion, up 9 per cent.
The testing on shrimp for the preservative ethoxyquin before they are imported to Japan is also expected to be removed. Meanwhile, demand for fish and seafood products from China, South Korea and ASEAN countries are forecast to increase.
He said that this year, aquaculture will be faced with a lack of capital, rising input costs and challenges related to technical barriers and food hygiene and safety standards.
"Shrimp production would continue to suffer until the emerging early mortality syndrome (EMS) was brought under control," he said, adding that although seafood output levels were stable, quality had not yet seen much improvement. The prices of imported raw materials were expected to increase by 20 per cent from last year.
Fish and seafood export turnover last year was reported at $ 6.12 billion, only equal to 94.2 per cent of the goal and that of 2011.
