Viet Nam earned US$170.18 million from tra fish exports to the US in the first five months of the year, making it the country's largest tra fish importer.The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said the export turnover rose 16 per cent over the same period last year, more than the EU which used to be number one.
In May alone, the US imported tra fish worth $56.9 million, representing a year-on-year increase of 72 per cent and accounting for 24 per cent of the total.
The rise in tra fish exports to the US was despite an increase in anti-dumping duties on tra fish fillets from Viet Nam.
The EU now ranks second, accounting for 22.4 per cent of the total as its export to the US fell to $159 million, down 15.6 per cent over the corresponding period last year.
Meanwhile, there were increase in both volume and value of tra exports to Southeast Asia, Brazil, mainland China, Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Mexico and Colombia.
Statistics from the General Department of Customs showed export earnings from tra fish in May reached $174.09 million, up 15.7 per cent over the same month last year. However, exports in the five-month period fetched $708.89 million, down 1.5 per cent year-on-year.
Earlier, the association forecast tra fish exports would bring in $1.9 billion by year-end, surging 5.5 per cent year-on-year.
Meanwhile, experts say tra fish business should meet stricter hygiene and registration conditions to guarantee quality and improve management.
There should also be more co-ordination among tra fish farmers, processors and exporters, they said.
