In 2009 the exports of Vietnamese dried seafood products has reached 41,600 tonnes worth USD 155.6 million, 32 percent higher in volume and 10.9 percent in value compared with figures from 2008. It is reported that the major market of dried seafood are South Korea, the US, Taiwan, Japan and member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). These countries imported over 80 percent of Vietnam’s total dried seafood products.
However the year starts with a slow progress and in the first half of 2009, dried seafood exports fell compared to the previous year due to the global economic crisis. After June dried seafood exports soared despite precarious market. South Korea was the biggest single importer of Vietnamese dried seafood products, importing 11,697 tonnes worth USD 59.12 million, followed by the US, whose imports climbed by 81.8 percent in value against the previous year’s. Japan’s imports grew by 56.6 percent, Taiwan’s by 36.5 percent and ASEAN countries’ by 2.9 percent.
On the contrary the value of dried seafood exports to Russia and Ukraine plunged by 76.3 percent and 65.8 percent, respectively, last year. It is reported that the total seafood exports yielded USD 4.25 billion last year, 5.7 percent less than in 2008.
