In the first four months of this year, the value stood at over 2.6 billion USD, down more than 31% from the same period last year.
Le Hang, Communications Director of VASEP, pointed out that domestic firms are still under pressure of plummeting consumption and dropping export prices given surging production costs.
In the four-month period, decreases in export revenue were seen in major markets like the US and China, with 57% and 37% to 418 million USD and 435 million USD, respectively.
The exports of main items such as tra fish (pangasius) and shrimp experienced sharp declines of 46% and 44% to 600 million USD and 891 million USD, the association said.
Some enterprises said that the number of orders decreased more than 30% between January and April, forcing them to give workers rotational leave.
Speaking at a conference held by the Ministry of Industry and Trade late April, VASEP’s Vice Secretary General Nguyen Hoai Nam noted that aquatic product exports are predicted to face more difficulties this year.
He proposed the Government offer low-interest credit packages in support of businesses, farmers and fishermen, thus helping the sector stay afloat this year, and recover when the consumption market gets better./.