Vietnam’s year-to-date seafood exports to Brazil topped US $72.7 million through September 15, 2013, up 70.6% compared to the previous period in 2012, according to statistics from Vietnam Customs posted online by pangasius-vietnam.com. The rise is primarily due to a 70.5% increase in pangasius sales.
Brazil currently ranks fourth among Vietnam’s markets for pangasius exports, after the USA, which imported $273.7 million, the EU (US $267.2 million), and ASEAN (US $86.4 million).
Brazil is increasing its imports of numerous kinds of frozen fish fillets, of which pangasius has been in greatest demand, followed by Alaska pollock and hake. The four leading suppliers are
China, Chile, Vietnam and Argentina.
Through August of 2013, Brazilian imports of 118,066 metric tons of frozen fish fillets amounted to US $321.4 million. China was the largest supplier with 51,262 metric tons valued at US $108.2 million. Vietnam came in second at 34,634 tons (primarily pangasius) worth US $70.6 million.
