Vietnamese seafood is interested in the US market

Export Seafood in the first months of this year has recorded outstanding growth. Many businesses have quickly grasped market opportunities and promoted the export of strong aquatic products.

The acceleration at the beginning of the year has made the expectation of seafood export this year bringing in over 9 billion USD – a number that has been delayed for many years has grounds to become reality.

Specifically, in the first two months of the year, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached nearly 1.5 billion USD, an increase of more than 47% over the same period; especially, pangasius increased over 83%; shrimp over 34%… In addition, positive signals can be seen from the North American Seafood Fair that just ended in Boston, Massasusheet, the Northeastern region of the United States. This is a specialized seafood fair, prestigious in the world, reopened after a 2-year pause due to COVID-19.

At this year’s fair, Vietnam has 13 participating enterprises, which are processing and exporting enterprises of shrimp, tuna, octopus and other aquatic products.

Seafood exports in the first months of this year recorded a remarkable growth. (Illustration image – Photo: Investment Newspaper)

Entering the US market, Vietnamese seafood must compete fairly with other competitors, from Brazil, Canada and a variety of other Asian countries.

Many businesses already have connections with partners, so that when they come to the fair, they can sign export contracts right away.

“We are also very surprised because after the COVID-19 epidemic, many customers were interested in and learning about our products. This year is one of the years for tuna products, especially the tuna product line. Eating raw, tuna sushi, is very hot in the US market”, said Mr. Nguyen Van Minh, Director of Nghi Son Food Group, “Customers in the US are one of the very large markets, the demand of They are a real need, when working with them, we can close the contract immediately, if we feel the price is reasonable.”

“We always aim to produce and diversify products to supply the US market. With such a large demand as the US market and such large output, it will help create jobs for workers. at the company’s factories in Vietnam”, said Mr. Ngo Hoan Vu, Deputy General Director of Minh Phu Seafood Company.

For American businesses, connecting directly after working for a long time via Zoom, texting or email brings many unexpected results and not only sales.

“A lot of work had to be done, both on the Vietnamese side and here. To meet each other here, wrap everything up and shake hands, announce to each other that both have worked well, achieved results. As a result, we can expand our cooperation in the near future,” said Kyle Nold, Sales Director, Platina Seafood Company, Florida, USA.

After 2 years of hiatus due to the epidemic, this comeback of Vietnamese enterprises is considered a great effort, helping Vietnam’s seafood industry maintain and develop market share in one of the largest markets in the world.

Efforts to meet seafood export standards to the US

The shrimp industry aims to achieve an export turnover of 4 billion USD this year. In which, the US market alone accounted for more than half of export turnover. The good growth in this market has helped Vietnam maintain its 4th position in shrimp supplies to the US. At the same time, this result also shows the great efforts of enterprises in meeting the very strict standards of the market.

The acceleration right from the beginning of the year has made expectations about the possibility of seafood export this year bringing in over 9 billion USD. (Illustration image – Photo: Investment Newspaper)

The US market is opening up opportunities for businesses, promoting sales here. However, in order to sell goods to this market, they must also strictly comply with the regulations of the US authorities. The most important are regulations on food safety and origin so that partners can closely monitor.

“We have to meet the quality requirements of FDA standards. They have to know where the product’s ingredients come from, from which farming area, where the seed comes from, which hatchery it is produced from, the feed. What factory is my product produced from to raise my bowl?From that shrimp to my factory, then I produce the final product, which is traceability.In addition, they also raise the question of social security, how to ensure a good and safe working environment for employees,” said Mr. Ngo Hoan Vu, Deputy General Director of Minh Phu Seafood Company.

“Many companies here sell the same product. Many times we ask ourselves what is the difference between the products? Sometimes it’s the same. So what’s the difference? In my opinion, it’s construction.” Building a relationship, so that we can work for a long time. Not only selling, everyone can make a sale, very easy, but building a relationship, let you trust me, I believe you and from there we are together. business, grow together. We will be happy to see each other, see each other’s products. And then, it’s not just business, it’s our relationship with each other”, Mr. Kyle Nold, Sales Manager, Platina Seafood Company, Florida, USA, shared.

Currently, the seafood import markets not only have strict requirements on food safety, quality, but also traceability, eco-label… With pangasius, now has 100% of the area. The farm is granted an identification number of the pond. However, in contrast, the number of shrimp farming areas that have been granted codes is too low.

Therefore, according to the Directorate of Fisheries, localities need to speed up the issuance of shrimp farming area codes to qualified establishments, not wait until Decree No. 26 dated March 8, 2019 details a A number of articles and measures to implement the Law on Fisheries have been amended and then made one. At that time, the issuance of codes will not be done in time to meet the needs of farmers and businesses, leading to missed market opportunities.

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