U.S. is largest market for Vietnamese shark catfish

U.S. is largest market for Vietnamese shark catfish

The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has projected that catfish export revenues in 2019 could continue to remain high at around US$2.2 billion.

VASEP Deputy General Secretary Nguyen Hoai Nam stated that such a performance came as a result of years of efforts to build brands and improve quality.

According to many experts, the U.S.-China trade conflict is producing a positive effect on certain Vietnamese exports, including shark catfish.

In addition, when the Viet Nam-EU free trade agreement is signed, Viet Nam’s shark catfish exports to the EU could also be boosted as a result of tariff elimination for both raw and processed fish.

Viet Nam’s General Directorate of Fisheries is working with enterprises to further enhance the quality of catfish fillets so as to bolster exports.

However, challenges remain while Vietnamese catfish continue to face import restrictions imposed by Europe and the U.S.

In 2018, shark catfish exports brought in US$2.26 billion, up 26.4% against the previous year, thanks to higher prices as a result of greater investment in processing.

By Vien Nhu