According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in December 2022, the country's seafood exports reached US$785 million, continuing a 13% decrease over the same period in 2021. However, thanks to With continuous growth in the first 10 months of the year, for the whole year of 2022, the seafood export industry has reached the target of 11 billion USD, an increase of nearly 24% compared to 2021.

China will be the most potential destination for seafood in 2023

In December, although exports to most markets and market blocks decreased, exports to China and Hong Kong still increased by 17%, opening an optimistic signal about this market in the coming time. In the whole year of 2022, the Chinese and Hong Kong markets brought in over $1.8 billion for Vietnam's seafood industry, an increase of 59% compared to 2021.

Exports to ASEAN countries still maintained a positive growth momentum of 27% in December and this market group contributed USD 790 million to Vietnam's seafood in the whole year of 2022.

Exports to the US market fell the most, 40% in December and the whole year of 2022, exports to this market reached over $ 2.1 billion, up 5% compared to 2021. Exports to the EU reached nearly 1. 3 billion USD, an increase of 20%, in December alone, this market decreased 32% of Vietnam's seafood imports. Japan kept a stable level in December and the whole year exports to this country reached nearly 1.7 billion USD, up 28%.

The bloc of CPTPP countries contributes to Vietnam's seafood industry more than 2.8 billion USD in 2022, up 30% compared to 2021.

The world economic recession and inflation are causing the market's demand to consume and import seafood to decrease sharply. It is forecasted that exports in the first quarter of 2023 will not be able to keep the positive results like in 2022 and the market may recover in the second half of 2023. Therefore, in 2023, seafood exports may be forecasted. slightly decreased to over 10 billion USD.

Regarding the Chinese market, on December 26, China announced that it would open its borders and completely lift isolation measures to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic from January 8, 2023. This decision is China's final step in canceling the 'Zero Covid' policy that the country has applied for the past 3 years. The opening of a market of 1.4 billion people is expected to have a positive impact on Vietnam's seafood exports.

Mr. Le Ba Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Agro-Forestry-Fisheries Quality Management (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - said that despite difficulties in exporting seafood, especially the "Zero Covid-19" policy. ', but in 2022, seafood exports to the Chinese market will still increase strongly, with export turnover doubling. Therefore, when opening, it will create favorable conditions for seafood, in which, these items are expected to increase sharply.

Mr. Le Ba Anh analyzed, first, that China's implementation of the 'Zero Covid' regime makes seafood exports to this market difficult. Export of seafood 'live goods' is almost entirely by road. The 'Zero Covid' policy has blocked all 'live goods', especially high-value items such as live crabs, lobsters, vannamei and black tiger shrimp.

Second, it is the consumption power of the Chinese market. When China opens, the restaurants on your side will open, then, the consumption of live and premium seafood products will increase sharply.

Third, aquatic products, if previously exported, go by sea to the port and are subject to inspection on the container walls and packaging. It takes about 2 weeks to check and if it is detected, the export business will be suspended. With China's new policy, all the above complicated procedures will be abolished, exporting seafood to the Chinese market will be very convenient.

In this regard, Ms. Le Hang - Communications Director of VASEP said that in the context of rising global inflation, China will be the most potential destination of Vietnamese seafood enterprises in 2023 thanks to the booming demand. explosive, close geographical location, lower logistics costs and risks than other markets. When China opens up, the demand for seafood will explode while the country's domestic raw materials are difficult to meet because of the heavy impact of the Covid-19 epidemic.

In export items, Ms. Le Hang said, pangasius will be more profitable than shrimp because businesses have existing trade relations with Chinese partners, Vietnamese pangasius can fill the gap between white fish from the US and China. Russia in the context of political conflict has not yet come to an end.

On the other hand, recently, Chinese consumers tend to consume more pangasius and other freshwater fish than tilapia, which is also an opportunity for businesses to increase exports.

As for the shrimp segment, China imports a large amount, but it is difficult for Vietnamese shrimp to compete in China in both the high-end and raw materials segments. Therefore, enterprises mainly export value-added products to other potential markets such as Japan, EU...