With the revenue of US$231 million in first 6 months of 2013, China made up nearly 28 percent of total seafood exports from Viet Nam, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
During the first quarter of 2013, seafood exports to China were valued at US$98 million, up 8 per cent over the same period in 2012 and since then, the positive growth has been continuing through to the second quarter. Viet Nam has been exporting mostly shrimp and pangasius to the Chinese market.
In spite of the economic downturn, China's seafood demand remains high because of its high population density. In 2012, the country’s seafood imports still reached US$5.5 billion, down less than two per cent from the previous year.
Due to lack of raw materials, China has boosted raw shrimp and finfish imports. This trend is forecast to go on in 2013. Moreover, this year will witness a boost in China's seafood consumption over poultry as the H7N9 continues to claim lives.
