Free trade pacts boost Vietnamese shark catfish exports

Free trade agreements are regarded as an important impetus for Vietnam’s seafood industry to take off, including shark fish exports, as stated by an industry body.
Free trade pacts boost Vietnamese shark catfish exports

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), thanks to the CPTPP, Vietnam’s shark catfish exports to the bloc reached 12 million USD in the first half of June 2024, up 23% over the same period last year.

As of June 15, Vietnamese shark catfish exports to CPTPP markets reached 114 million USD, up 10% year on year.

Mexico was the largest importer of Vietnamese shark catfish at 31 million USD, followed by Japan and Canada with 18 million USD each.

In addition to the CPTPP, frozen shark catfish fillets have also become one of Vietnam’s key exports to the EU due to the advantage of the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement.

In the first five months of 2024, the EU imported 67 million USD worth of Vietnamese shark catfish fillets, accounting for 11% of Vietnam’s total exports.

The Netherlands was the largest buyer in the bloc with 21 million USD in the first six months of 2024.

Other large European importers of Vietnamese shark catfish were Germany, Spain and Belgium, whose respective import values were 17 million USD, 9 million USD and 8 million USD.

NDO