HANOI: Vietnamese pangasius exports generated USD 750 million in the first six months of 2015, representing a decline of 9 per cent from the previous year.
In the analysed period, 516,140 tonnes were harvested on an area of 1,857 hectares, representing an increase of 1.22 per cent year-on-year, according to statistics from the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Entrepreneurs (VASEP).
Out of the total area and production obtained in the Mekong delta, the provinces of Dong Thap, Ben Tre, An Giang and Can Tho represented about 88 per cent.
VASEP informed that there was an increase in the demand of the country’s pangasius exports from one of its major markets – the United States (US). The value of shipments to this country grew by 4.8 per cent in the first six months of 2015, to USD 159 million with a share of 21.2 per cent of the total exports of this species.
It was followed by the European Union, which purchased Vietnamese pangasius for USD 142.5 million between January and May this year, which represented a 19 per cent of the total value and a 17.6 per cent decline year on year.
In the first semester of this year, the third biggest importer of Vietnam’s pangasius was China and Hong Kong, which imported catfish for a value of USD 70.2 million, representing an increase of 50.7 per cent year on year and a participation of 9.4 per cent in the total value of Vietnamese pangasius shipments.
ASEAN countries represented the fourth most importan destination with purchases for USD 69.3 million in the January-June period, which accounts for a year on year 4 per cent fal. This market had a participation of 9.2 per cent.
