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| A tuna has been caught by fishermen in central Phu Yen Province. Viet Nam earned over US$4 million from tuna exports to Portugal in the first five months of this year. — VNA/VNS Photo Hong Ky |
HA NOI (Biz Hub)— Viet Nam earned over US$4 million from tuna exports to Portugal in the first five months of this year, representing an impressive year-on-year increase of 419 per cent.
Portugal was one of Viet Nam's top ten tuna importers during the period, according to the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Portugal imported over $2.5 million worth of tuna fillets from Viet Nam, a 941 per cent rise over the same period last year, and 1.4 times higher than the 2012 figure. Viet Nam is now the second largest exporter of tuna to Portugal after Spain.
Viet Nam also recorded a strong surge in fresh and frozen tuna products to Portugal during the first five months, raking in more than $924,000, up 67 per cent year-on-year.
The country ranked fourth among exporters of processed tuna products to Portugal with an export value of almost $809,000.
Exports of Viet Nam's steamed tuna fillets to the European country are also forecast to increase.
Meanwhile, shipments of Vietnamese tuna to Canada also posted encouraging growth of 22 per cent in the five-month period, bringing home $5.73 million, VASEP reported. The association noted that Viet Nam was currently the largest exporter of frozen big eye tuna and the second largest exporter of frozen yellow fin tuna to Canada.
However, with the recent requirements of the Earth Island Organisation regarding the "Dolphin safe" label on tuna products, Vietnamese exporters may have difficulty maintaining this growth. — VNS