Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam’sseafood export turnover is expected to reach 8.3 billion USD this year, postingan 18 percent increase over 2016, according to the Vietnam Association ofSeafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Statistics released by the association showed that in the first 11 months ofthe year, the country’s seafood export turnover was estimated at more than 7.6billion USD, representing an increase of 18 percent year-on-year. In Novemberalone, export turnover rose by 11 percent from the previous month to reach 733million USD.

Specifically, the shrimp export turnover was 3.5 billion USD in theJanuary-November period, increasing 22 percent from the corresponding periodlast year. The tra catfish turnover posted a 5 percent year-on-year rise to 1.6billion USD. The product’s turnover this year is expected to reach 1.8 billionUSD, or a 4 percent increase from last year.

The tuna export turnover in the period increased by 19 percent from the sameperiod last year to 541 million USD, and is predicted to earn 600 million USDthis year. Exports of squid and octopus in 2016 reached 565 million USD, up 48percent, and are expected to reach over 600 million USD, up 37 percent over2016.

The market has seen slow growth in recent months. Seafood exports to theEuropean Union (EU) are forecast to continue reducing this month due to theeffects of the EU’s warning about illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)fishing.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has reported that the seafoodoutput in the first 11 months of the year reached over 3 million tonnes,representing a 4 percent year-on-year rise.

The aquaculture output in November was 345,000 tonnes, bringing the totaloutput in 11 months to 3.51 million tonnes, up 8 percent from the same periodlast year.

The ministry said tuna output in the three central coastal provinces was 17,390tonnes, including Binh Dinh at 9,700 tonnes; Khanh Hoa at 3,806 tonnes and PhuYen at 3,976 tonnes. The price of tuna ranges from 96,000 VND (4.2 USD) to 115,000VND per kilo.

The tra catfish aquaculture area in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta region in thefirst 11 months of the year also rose by 2 percent from last year to 5,822ha,and output of over 1.2 million tonnes. Dong Thap province has the highestoutput of 436,000 tonnes, up 1.4 percent from the corresponding period lastyear. It was followed by An Giang with 258,000 tonnes and Can Tho with 171,500tonnes.

The price of tra fish was stable last month at 26,000-28,000 VMD per kilo.

The shrimp aquaculture area also continued to increase to 562,000ha and outputof 237,600 tonnes.-VNA