Markets in Japan, Korea and EU are booming for the squid and octopus but seafood companies are discreet to sign contracts with buyers. Many squid and octopus processing enterprises said due to the decrease of exploiting volume, source of material which can be used for export processing is not much so enterprises dare not sign contract with customers.
It is informed that till the end of May 2009, exports of squid and octopus in Vietnam still facing a lot of obstacles in source of material while market situation was quite good in comparision with the months end of 2008. In the first 5 months 2009, only America, Australia and ASEAN were the three stable import markets of squid and octopus from Vietnam.
According to the report of General Department of Customs of Vietnam, in the first 5 months 2009, the whole country exported 27,340 tons of squid, worth USD 97.92 million, down 12.2% in volume and 15.3% in value against the same period last year. Particularly in May 2009, Vietnam exported 6,470 tons of cephalopod, worth USD 22.65 million, down 23.9% in term of volume and 28.3% in term of value against the same time 2008. Currently, seafood processing enterprises are trying to look for export markets and diversify products, however the shortage of material is the most difficulty.
