Exports of shrimp from Vietnam during January through May of 2016 rose 5.9% in value to US $1.1 billion, according to customs department statistics reported by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP). A 34.3% surge in shipments to China and Hong Kong fetched $182.13 million. China’s market share amounted to 16.6%, just behind Japan’s 17%.
Exports to the United States rose 17.4% to generate $249.3 million. The USA ranked as Vietnam’s No. 1 destination for shrimp exports, accounting for 22.6% of all sales. The European Union was second at 18.9% of total sales, with turnover there advancing by 8.2% to $208.4 million.
Within the EU, the United Kingdom surpassed Germany as the top destination for exports as shrimp sales of $44 million rose by 21.6% from January through May. This was attributed to the market’s rising demand for warmwater species (Penaeus spp) coupled with a decline in the supply of higher-priced coldwater shrimp (Crangon crangon).
However, noted VASEP shrimp market specialist Kim Thu, sales to the UK in May of 2016 fell almost 28% to $6.8 million, compared with receipts in May of 2015. This marked the first month during 2016 in which shrimp receipts from the UK posted a year-on-year decline.
Citing Eurostat figures, VASEP reported that UK imports of coldwater shrimp – primarily sourced from the North Sea – from January to April amounted to 17 metric tons, down dramatically from 85 tons during the same period the year before. The average import price per kilo more than doubled to EUR 14.20, compared with EUR 6.64 in 2015.
From January to March of this year imports of warmwater shrimp weighed in at 545 metric tons, up 146.6% year-on-year from 221 tons in 2015. The average import price paid was EUR 9.44 per kilo, up slightly from EUR 9.25 during the same period the previous year.
Overall, farm-raised warmwater white shrimp accounted for 57.8% of total sales from January to April, followed by cultured black tiger shrimp at 33.7%, and while-caught shrimp at 8.5%.
