Tuna exports soar

Tuna export market is recovering

According to tuna processing and exporting enterprises, in 2020, due to the impact of Covid-19 pandemic, and the fact that Vietnamese seafood received a yellow card from the European Commission (EC), Vietnam’s tuna export faced many difficulties. There were fewer orders, some businesses even closed and stopped purchasing.

However, in the first months of 2021, Vietnam's tuna export is gradually recovering, especially export to the US market.

For example, the tuna export turnover of Thinh Hung Co., Ltd., in Suoi Dau Industrial Park (Khanh Hoa) in 2020 only reached 70% compared to previous years, before the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in early 2021, this enterprise received many orders.

Mr. Le Buu Quoc, Head of Raw Material Purchasing Department of Thinh Hung Co., Ltd., said that the tuna orders are recovering from the impact of Covid-19. In addition to the European market, the company also received orders for raw tuna from supermarkets in the US and Canada ...

However, according to Mr. Quoc, domestic supply only meets 2/3 of the export orders.They have to import raw tuna materials from Taiwan, China, Indonesia... at prices equal to that of domestic raw materials, but 20% higher compared to 2019.

Similarly, T&H Nha Trang Co., Ltd in Dien Khanh district (Khanh Hoa) is also receiving many orders for tuna export from Europe and America.

In this regard, Mr. Huynh Dac Tri, Director of T&H Nha Trang Co., Ltd., said that despite the impact of the Covid-19, businesses have received about 70-80% orders compared to the time before the Covid-19, which is a very positive sign.

Forecast of tuna export in the coming time  

Mr. Vu Dinh Dap, Chairman of the Vietnam Tuna Association, said that there are 17 tuna processing and exporting enterprises nationwide, mainly in Khanh Hoa, Binh Dinh and Phu Yen. Currently, Vietnam's tuna have been exported to more than 100 countries around the world.

In 2020, the total export turnover of tuna reached US$ 648 million, of which the US market accounts for 40-41%, the Middle East 15%, the EU 14%, the ASEAN region 5%, Japan 4%.  

"Last year, the Vietnamese tuna export to Europe decreased, but the US market increased sharply by up to 41%, while in previous years this market only accounted for 28-30%", Mr. Dap said, adding that in the first months of 2021, Vietnam's tuna exports are recovering, so the price of tuna purchased increased by 10-15% compared to last year.

According to Mr. Dap, the lack of raw materials for tuna processing and exporting enterprises is a long persistent issue. Because local materials only meet 30-35%, the rest must be imported from other countries. Meanwhile, only big processing factories have the capacity and ability to import raw materials.

Regarding the trend of Vietnam's tuna export in the coming time, Mr. Dap said that current markets will remain unchanged, as the yellow card from EC is still in effect.

According to Vietnamese tuna processing and exporting enterprises, there is a shortage of empty containers to carry export goods. In addition, the cost of exporting a container is lower than before Tet but still high, doubling that of 2020. Therefore, exporting a container to Europe costs US$ 6,000-7,000/trip (depending on port) and to America US$ 4,000-6,000/trip.