Seafood processing plant. (Photo Credit: VASEP)

Vietnamese seafood exports to Russia keep rising

VIET NAM
Monday, September 01, 2014, 03:20 (GMT + 9)

Seafood exports from Vietnam to Russia reached USD 36.2 million in the first seven months of 2014, representing a 5.4 per cent increase year on year, according to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

Further rise has been forecast for these exports in the second half of the year, since Russia has lifted the suspension on seafood imports of seven Vietnamese companies and to the impact of the FTAs with the Customs Union.

“This is really a good sign because Russia has long been one key market in Europe for Vietnam seafood enterprises”, pointed out VASEP General Secretary Truong Dinh Hoe.

After Russia banned seafood imports from Vietnam on 31 January as a result of the tests conducted by Russian veterinarians in Vietnam in December 2013 that stated that the shipments did not meet its food safety standards, there was a decline in exports to this market compared to the same period last year.

VASEP informed that in 2013, pangasius was accounted for 44 per cent of total Vietnam seafood exports to Russia while in the first seven months of this year, it reached only 11 per cent.

Negotiations between delegations of both countries started in June this year to solve technical problems, resume pangasius exports to Russia, promote cooperation in food safety control and disease control on animals as well as animal-derived products.

As a result of these discussions, Vietnam will be the first Southeast Asian nation to sign FTA with Customs Union, which would bring great exporting opportunities to Russia for Vietnam enterprises.

The next negotiating session has been scheduled to take place in September and it would be a chance for Vietnam to push Russia to strengthen cooperation to ensure food safety for agricultural products, to increase the number of Vietnam seafood exporters allowed to join this market, and to regulate microorganism limit in aquatic products.

VASEP considers that the Russian ban on seafood imports from the United States, the EU, Norway, Canada and Australia for 1 year that started on 7 August 2014 because of political issues related to Ukraine represents a good opportunity for Vietnam and other countries to boost seafood exports to Russia.

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- Seafood marketing activities boosted after Russian import ban

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