Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnam is expected to makebreakthroughs in exporting aquatic products in the coming time thanks to itsgood performance of biological safety, and benefits brought by free tradeagreements (FTAs), according to the Ministry of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment.

The ministry reported that Vietnam’s agro-forestry-aquatic product exportturnover hit about 17.15 billion USD in the first four months of 2021, up 24.2percent year-on-year. Of which, earnings from seafoodexports reached 2.39 billion USD, up 6.1 percent.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien attributedthe positive results to Vietnam’s sustainable agricultural ecosystem and strictmanagement of biosecurity.

Vietnam has 815 shrimp enterprises, 200 tra fish businesses and 125 other companiesoperating the fishery sector. Vietnamese aquatic products have been exported tomany major markets such as the European Union (EU) and the US. Recently, the UShas re-inspected Vietnamese tra fish and the results showed that the productstill meets the criteria set by the US.

The country is also exerting efforts to fully tap opportunities to further promoteits agro-aquatic product exports to the EU.

If the COVID-19 pandemic is controlled, theministry will kick start export of aquatic products to the UK within theframework of the UK – Vietnam FTA (UKVFTA), which officially took effect fromMay 1, and expand exports to the Middle East, and the Republic of Korea (RoK),Tien said.

Vietnam’s aquatic exports are projected to post a year-on-year rise of 10percent to 2.1 billion USD in the second quarter of 2021.

The country aims to earn 980 million USD and816 million USD from exporting shrimps and seafood products in the period, up10 percent and 9.6 percent, respectively.

The growths of shrimp and tra fish exports will depend mainly on marketfluctuations, Tien noted, affirming that more positive signals are projected forVietnam’s shrimp industry because the demand for shrimps in key markets such asthe US and the EU continues to increase.

Tien stressed that the global health crisis has caused difficulties for foreignshrimp exporters, while value chains of Vietnam’s “rival" countries arebroken, offering great opportunities for Vietnamese exporters.

Vietnam has expanded its shrimp farming area to over 74,000 ha, Tien said,adding that the country is working hard on farming, exploiting and processing inorder to improve the value and brand of the sector.

The country has set to rake in 10 billion USD from shrimp exports in 2025, hesaid.

According to the deputy minister, more measures will be enhanced to promoteaquatic product exports in the time to come, including promoting internationalcooperation and investment for infrastructure development serving theindustry./.