China and Hong Kong (China) have become the largest importerwith 33.4 percent, followed by the US with 16.6 percent, ASEAN 9.9 percent andthe European Union 9.4 percent.
In the recent decade, China has imported tra fish mostlyfrom Vietnam and sold them to Russia and Europe.
Vice Chairman of An Giang province’s People’s Committee TranAnh Thu said An Giang had held fact-finding trips to tra fish breedingcountries. Compared to India, China and Bangladesh, Vietnam fared better interms of both quantity and quality of tra fish.
However, Vietnam’s export of the fish are facing severalobstacles, including a loose connection between processing and tradingbusinesses and farmers, while many farmers fail to meet firms’ requirements forfood hygiene and safety.
According to the VPA, another problem for the tra fishsector is a decline in the quality of fries, low water levels in rivers inMekong Delta localities and saltwater intrusion in coastal provinces.
At the same time, trade and technical barriers remain, forexample new regulations in the Chinese market, and stipulations in the EuropeanUnion – Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
VPA Vice President Vo Hung Dung said the EVFTA will enablethe Vietnamese fisheries sector, including tra fish, to expand export marketsand enhance competitiveness.
To develop the sustainability of tra fish sector, the VPAurged firms to improve product quality, comply with tra fish breeding andprocessing requirements in line with the Government’s Decree No.55/2017/ND-CP.
They were advised to build trademark for Vietnamese tra fish,and develop new selling channels in both domestic and international markets.
To navigate demanding markets such as Europe, the US and theMiddle East, An Giang has formed a 600ha intensive farming zone using advancedtechnologies, and is working on three other zones.
Due to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam only earnednearly 1.04 billion USD from tra fish export in nine months of this year.
As of late October, over 1.5 billion fries were released inthe Mekong Delta. Fry prices also increased in October after falling in thepast nine months./.