Official data revealed that Vietnamese exports of pangasius are on the rise, with volumes in Mekong Delta increasing by nearly a fifth to more than 300,000 metric tons in the first half of 2010. So to tap the untouched big export markets the seafood producers of the nation are seeking global quality certificates. Large numbers of Vietnamese producers and exporters in Mekong Delta are applying for quality certificates such as EuroGap, GlobalGap and HACCP to reach markets such as the United States, the European Union and Japan.
Vinh Hoan is the latest pangasius exporter to receive the certificate since NTCA Corp and shrimp exporter Minh Phu Corp were certified. Vinh Hoan said it now expects to build up its export capacity and raise the average value of its pangasius by 10 percent to 20 percent. Ngo Phuoc Hau, who chairs the Fresh Water Fish Committee under the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), said that producers are also increasingly starting to farm their own fish to better control the quality.
Vietnam’s government recently identified pangasius as a key export and approved a $42 million (€32.6 million) project to develop the production and sales of the fish in Mekong Delta till 2020. This year, total output is also expected to increase to 1.5 million metric tons, valued at $1.5 billion (€1.2 billion).
