Tuna exports to EU soar in October

Illustrative image (Source: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) - Export revenue of Vietnamese tuna to the EuropeanUnion (EU) in October almost doubled compared to the same period last year,hitting 14 million USD, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Producers and Exporters (VASEP).

The 92 percent increase in October lifted the country’s total tuna exportvalue to the EU in the first ten months of this year to 87.9 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 4.9 percent.

Vietnamese tuna products havebeen exported to 20 countries in the EU bloc. Of these, Italy, Germany andBelgium are the three largest buyers.

However, while exports toItaly saw continuous growth since the beginning of this year, exports toGermany and Belgium were reported to be unstable.

According to VASEP, while the EU market imported more processed tunaproducts than fresh tuna from Vietnam last year, imports of these products decreased 10 percent this year to 39million USD.

Meanwhile, the import offresh, frozen and dried tuna products saw a year-on-year growth of 22 percentthis year to 49 million USD.

The association said that Vietnamesecanned tuna products are facing difficulties in EU markets due to high tariffs,whereas similar products from Ecuador and the Philippines have more advantageswith zero percent preferential tariffs.

It predicts tuna exports,especially of fresh and frozen products, will continue to rise ahead of theholiday season./.

VNA