Seafood exports recover to pre-pandemic levels

Vietnam's seafood exports in the first 11 months were worth $7.8 billion, unchanged from the same period last year, indicating a recovery from the Covid-19-induced slump.

A fisherman prepares to deliver fish from a beach to a market in the central province of Quang Tri in February 2020. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Tao.

With exports starting to improve from July and 13 percent year-on-year growth being achieved in November, seafood exports this year are set to match last year’s $8.58 billion, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

It followed nearly six months of dwindling exports as the pandemic hit global demand.

Shrimp exports started to recover in June and grew nearly 14 percent year-on-year to $3.5 billion in the first 11 months.

VASEP said shrimp exports this year could exceed last year's by 15 percent to top $3.85 billion.

Pangasius fish, another key export item, is gradually seeing demand return to pre-pandemic levels, with November exports down just 4 percent year-on-year compared to 17-35 percent in March-September.

The U.S., Vietnam’s largest market, and China, the third largest, imported 11 percent and 1.5 percent more year-on-year in the first 11 months.

However, exports to China are set to face challenges in the coming months as that country is tightening procedures due to fear of importing the novel coronavirus, VASEP said.