Vietnam’s mollusk exports on the rise: VASEP

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the export turnover of Vietnam's mollusks in the first seven months of 2024 was estimated at over US$95 million, up 24% year-on-year, of which that of clams stood at US$52 million, scallops US$14 million, snails US$16 million, oysters over US$8 million, and other aquatic products nearly US$4 million.

Among these products, snails saw the highest growth rate compared to the same period in 2023, over 57%.

Nguyen Thi Van Ha, a market expert from VASEP, said that in the first seven months of 2024, China significantly increased its import of clams and scallops from Vietnam, with a rise of 120 times compared to the same period in 2023. Additionally, the export value of other live, fresh, or frozen mollusks has also surged, surpassing US$7 million, a year-on-year increase of nearly 82 times.

Over the past time, not only China but also other countries have been boosting their imports of Vietnamese molluscs, Ha added.

She also reported that currently, markets are also increasing their imports of rock lobsters, octopuses, and crabs. In the reviewed period, China raised its import of rock lobsters and other types of sea shrimp to an estimated US$111 million, marking a 32% increase compared to the same period last year. As a result, the share of Vietnamese rock lobsters in China’s total import value for this product rose from 1% last year to 25.3% this year. Additionally, the export revenue of frozen rock lobsters to this market also saw a dramatic increase of 682%, topping US$4.7 million.

For crabs, China and Hong Kong (China) remained the largest import markets for crabs and other crustaceans from Vietnam, accounting for 43% of the country's total. In July alone, crab and other crustacean exports to this market increased 20 times year-on-year, reaching nearly US$13 million, bringing the figure in the first seven months to nearly US$63 million, a year-on-year rise of 623%.

Exports to the US and Canada are also growing positively, with increases of 30% and 44%, respectively.

Meanwhile, exports to Japan have been on a downward trend for the past three months. The export value of crabs and other crustaceans to this market in the first seven months decreased slightly by 0.3% to over US$40 million.