Exports of aquatic products in March 2021 were estimated at US$640 million, bringing the total in the first three months of this year to US$1.64 billion, an increase of 3% over the same period in 2020, According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers(VASEP).

In the first two months of this year, Vietnam’s aquatic export activities was affected by a shortage of ships and containers and increasing freight charges, particularly in terms of freight to the US and EU.

At the same time, China also tightened its control of COVID-19 pandemic regarding imported aquatic products, causing difficulties for Vietnamese aquatic exports.

The shortage of containers has improved and China loosened its controls on imported goods from mid-March, thus, aquatic exports in March saw better results.

According to the VASEP, the export of shrimp and tra fish to China will bounce back again in April and the coming months as China gradually handles congestion at its seaports and loosened procedures on COVID-19 control on imported aquatic products.

In the meantime, Vietnam’s aquatic exports to the US market are also expected to see positive growth in the next few months thanks to the increasing export of tra fish. However, the export of shrimp to this market may not maintain as strong level of growth as in previous years.

With positive signals from the Chinese market, the VASEP predicts that Vietnam’s aquatic exports will reach US$680 million in April, an increase of 10% over the previous month, bringing total aquatic exports in the first four months of this year to US$2.32 billion, up 4% over the same period in 2020.

Source: Nhan Dan Online