 Fishermen harvest shrimp in the central province of Quang Tri. Viet Nam’s seafood export turnover reached $450 million in January and February, up 42 per cent over the same period last year. |
In February alone, the country earned $220 million from seafood exports, said Nguyen Viet Thang, Deputy Minister of Fisheries.
This month, Viet Nam exported 48,780 tonnes of seafood, including 8,600 tonnes of frozen shrimp, 4,380 tonnes of cuttlefish and octopus and 27,000 tonnes of fish.
The Ministry said many seafood processors had raised production capacity to meet export-contract demands, leading to a shortage of certain kinds of seafood - particularly tra and basa catfish, which processors have been buying for between VND16,500 and VND16,800 a kilo.
To meet this year’s fisheries’ targets, the Ministry has called on domestic seafood producers to boost exports and expand domestic markets. It has also advised them to participate more in domestic and foreign trade fairs, conduct more market research and enhance quality control standards and food hygiene.