HANOI: Vietnamese shrimp exports fell sharply in the first quarter of 2015 due to a decline in the species demand from major markets and in prices apart from the volatility in the currencies exchange rate against the American dollar.
According to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters & Producers (VASEP) sources consulted by FIS.com, during this period Vietnamese shrimp exports reached USD 798 million, representing a decline of 28.1 per cent year on year.
Besides, exports to the US fell by 55.8 per cent, and those to Japan decreased by 27.6 per cent.VASEP statistics showed that there was a 5 per cent increase in the volume of US shrimp imports in January and February but it decreased by 11 per cent in value.
After the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) refused to grant import licenses for 140 shipments of frozen shrimp found with high rates of antibiotic residues from India, Malaysia, China, and Vietnam in the first three months of this year, VASEP requested local seafood exporters to keep the antibiotic residues in their exports within limits, and try to find new markets for their products, Tuoi Tre News reported.
Among the Vietnamese firms listed by the FDA after finding veterinary drug residues in their shipments are Ngoc Tri Seafood Joint Stock Co, Bac Lieu Fisheries Co. Ltd., and Hoang Phuong Seafood Factory.
However, VASEP secretary general Truong Dinh Hoe pointed out that the majority of Vietnamese enterprises follow very strict regulations to control the quality of input materials, but some have faced problems as they failed to keep a check on their input from the selection of materials provided by farmers.
Meanwhile, Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department, remarked that despite these warnings, frozen shrimp and catfish shipments to the US market continuing showing an upward trend early this year compared to the previous one.
On the other hand, VASEP general secretary highlighted local seafood exporters are currently trying to find new partners and new export markets like Australia, South Korea, China, Hong Kong, and a number of Arab countries but he remarked that the method of payment remains an issue.
