HANOI: Export revenue of Vietnamese tuna to the European Union (EU) in October almost doubled compared to the same period last year, hitting US$14 million, according to the Việt Nam Association of Seafood Producers and Exporters (Vasep). The 92 per cent increase in October lifted the country’s total tuna export value to the EU in the first ten months of this year to $87.9 million, a year-on-year increase of 4.9 per cent. Vietnamese tuna products have been exported to 20 countries in the EU bloc. Of these, Italy, Germany and Belgium are the three largest buyers.
However, while exports to Italy saw continuous growth since the beginning of this year, exports to Germany and Belgium were reported to be unstable. According to Vasep, while the EU market imported more processed tuna products than fresh tuna from Việt Nam last year, imports of these products decreased 10 per cent this year to $39 million. Meanwhile, the import of fresh, frozen and dried tuna products saw a year-on-year growth of 22 per cent this year to $49 million.
According to Vasep, Vietnamese canned tuna products are facing difficulties in EU markets due to high tariffs, whereas similar products from Ecuador and the Philippines have more advantages with zero per cent preferential tariffs. The association predicts tuna exports, especially of fresh and frozen products, will continue to rise ahead of the holiday season.
