The forecast was made by Deputy President of the Vietnam Associationof Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEF) Nguyen Huu Dung.
Shrimp export is expected to value at 2.2 billion USD, equal to that oflast year, while tra fish export is predicted to bring in 1.9 billionUSD, up 5.5 percent.
The export of other seafood products is expected to rise by 10 percent to 2.4 billion USD.
Dung said that the export of fish and seafood to major markets isexpected to recover in the second quarter of this year after a drop of 8percent in turnover in the first quarter.
Exports to theEuropean market are expected to total 1.2 billion USD, up 5.3 percentover last year. Meanwhile, exports to the US are estimated to exceed1.3 billion USD, up 9 percent.
The testing on shrimp forthe preservative ethoxyquin before they are imported to Japan is alsoexpected to be removed. Meanwhile, demands for fish and seafood productsfrom China, the Republic of Korea and ASEAN countries areforecast to increase.
The VASEP official said that this year,aquaculture will face a lack of capital, rising input costs andchallenges related to technical barriers and food hygiene and safetystandards.
“Shrimp production would continue to suffer untilthe emerging early mortality syndrome ( EMS ) is brought undercontrol,” he said, adding that although seafood output levels arestable, quality has not yet seen much improvement.
The prices of imported raw materials are expected to increase by 20 percent from last year.
Fish and seafood export turnover last year was reported at 6.12billion USD, only equal to 94.2 percent of the goal and that of 2011.-VNA