April 4, 2025 | 11:09 GMT +7

  • Click to copy
Thursday- 04:19, 24/08/2023

China - The fisheries production and consumption ‘giant’

Fiscal space for Vietnam’s fresh fisheries products

(VAN) Chinese’s consumption trend holds similarities to Vietnamese’s. Fresh fisheries products such as quid, octopus, and lobster are the most popular.

A big trading partner of Vietnamese fisheries products

Truong Dinh Hoe, General Secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), says that in recent years, China has remained one of Vietnam’s major fisheries import markets, the third largest market with a turnover of over USD 1 billion, averagely 14 - 15% of the total export turnover.

In the first six months of 2023, China has surpassed the EU market, becoming the second largest market for Vietnam's fisheries exports. Vietnam’s fisheries export value to this market exceeds USD 716 million in this period, accounting for more than 17% of the total import turnover to China. In which, shrimp exports reach nearly USD 281 million, down 15.7%, pangasius exports reach USD 281 million, down 34.4%.

Regarding shrimp items, Nguyen Duy Kien, Asia-Africa Market Department (Ministry of Industry and Trade), says that shrimp farming in China is very difficult due to high input costs and low raw shrimp prices, so this country will continue to increase shrimp imports. “China's demand for shrimp imports has gradually recovered with the volume almost doubling compared to the same period last year. However, the price of imported shrimp remained low in the context of global market decline".

As for pangasius, Nguyen Van Dao, General Director of Godaco Seafood Joint Stock Company (Hau Giang), shared that in the first six months of 2023, pangasius export turnover of enterprises to China decreased by approximately 30%. In the case of Godaco, export activities also decreased by 10% compared to the same period last year due to a decrease in demand after the Covid-19 epidemic.

VASEP assesses that pangasius exports will be more profitable than shrimp exports in the near future. Photo: TQ.

VASEP assesses that pangasius exports will be more profitable than shrimp exports in the near future. Photo: TQ.

VASEP’s assessment shows that among export items, pangasius will be more profitable than shrimp because businesses have existing trade relations with Chinese partners. Vietnamese pangasius can fill the gap of white fish from Russia considering the existing conflicts. Another thing to add is that Chinese consumers tend to consume more pangasius and other freshwater fish. This is also an opportunity for Vietnamese businesses to increase exports.

Prioritize fresh fisheries products

According to Dr. Nguyen Huu Dung, Chairman of the Vietnam Marine Farming Association, China has a large demand for fisheries products at present, especially in Guangxi, Guangdong and Yunnan. For example, Guangdong can produce and provide a part of seafood, but this amount is not much compared to the consumption demands of the population.

China is still a very "profitable" market because Chinese consumption habit has many similarities to Vietnamese’s. For example, Chinese consumers prefer squid, octopus and lobster, all of which are items Vietnam can offer.

“Vietnamese seafood is easy to export to China, but it is mainly raw. The fresher it is, the higher the value. The Chinese would rather spend their money on a raw, whole shrimp than a shelled or processed shrimp,” said Tran Van Linh, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thuan Phuoc Seafoods and Trading Corporation (Da Nang).

Chinese consumers prefer fresh seafood. Photo: Hong Tham.

Chinese consumers prefer fresh seafood. Photo: Hong Tham.

Le Ba Anh, Deputy Director of the National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department, said that Vietnam's fresh fisheries products are favorable for boosting exports to the Chinese market.

First of all, Vietnam has a fairly wide land border and many official border gates with China, which is a great advantage for exporting live and fresh products. Secondly, Chinese families and restaurants prefer fresh seafood in order to have it processed according to local tastes. Thirdly, fresh Vietnamese fisheries products are reasonably priced while having high quality.

China currently allows 48 aquatic species and 128 fisheries products from Vietnam to be exported to this market. The National Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Assurance Department has sent a dossier, requesting to add some objects (salted jellyfish, red swimming crabs, etc.) to the list of permitted export items to China. However, the Chinese side often takes a long time to conduct additional appraisals of enterprises and products.

According to Deputy Director Le Ba Anh, enterprises who want to export seafood to China need to pay attention to a number of issues:

Products must be on the list recognized by China;

Products are packaged and labeled with enough information according to China's traceability requirements;

Each shipment exported to China is assessed and granted a food safety certificate;

Chinese authorities will organize an annual inspection, either in person or online (probability) for enterprises exporting to China or those which commit violations.

Authors: Hong Tham - Trung Quan

Translated by Samuel Pham

Sustainable future for wood industry: [Part 3] Green transformation

Sustainable future for wood industry: [Part 3] Green transformation

(VAN) One of the solutions for Vietnam's timber industry to achieve sustainable development amid the current challenges is to undergo a green transformation…

The genetic diversity of our plants and forests is at risk

The genetic diversity of our plants and forests is at risk

(VAN) Empowering farmers, Indigenous Peoples, local communities and scientists to conserve and use genetic resources is key to resilient agrifood systems.

Ecological agriculture is a solution for many challenges

Ecological agriculture is a solution for many challenges

(VAN) Mr. Nguyen Do Anh Tuan, Director of the International Cooperation Department (Ministry of Agriculture and Environment), affirmed that ecological agriculture is a solution for many challenges in the current period.

FAO supports drought impact assessment tool in Vietnam Central Highlands

FAO supports drought impact assessment tool in Vietnam Central Highlands

(VAN) The project ‘Drought impact assessment in the Central Highlands’ will leverage remote sensing technology to forecast drought for about 1,500 square kilometers of agricultural production areas.

Merging of provinces does not affect the progress of World Bank projects

Merging of provinces does not affect the progress of World Bank projects

(VAN) The World Bank (WB) will accompany the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment in implementing sustainable fisheries infrastructure development and ensuring livelihoods projects.

Sustainable future for wood industry: [Part 2] Businesses concern about tax policies

Sustainable future for wood industry: [Part 2] Businesses concern about tax policies

(VAN) In addition to the challenges posed by the EUDR, Vietnam's wood industry is also facing tax policies from the United States, one of its major markets.

Sustainable future for wood industry: [Part 1] Identifying challenges

Sustainable future for wood industry: [Part 1] Identifying challenges

(VAN) With the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) and fluctuations in the global market, Vietnam's wood industry will face numerous challenges in the coming years that must be overcome...

Read more
Báo Nông Nghiệp