China: Demand for shrimp imports remained stable
(11/26/2019 12:00:00 AM)
Contrary to the trend of 2017 with a growth
rate of nearly 60%, Vietnam shrimp exports to China in 2018 witnessed a
decline. From the 3rd position on Vietnam shrimp import markets in 2017,
accounting for nearly 18%, this year, China dropped to the 4th
position, accounting for nearly 14% of the total value of Vietnam shrimp
export to the markets.
As
of November 2018, shrimp exports to China only increased in January and
March with the remaining months of export decreased by 2 digits rate.
In the first eleven months of 2018, China was the market that recorded
the strongest decrease in Vietnam shrimp imports among the main markets
importing Vietnamese shrimp. Vietnam shrimp exports to China reached
US$449.8 million, down 29.5% compared to the same period in 2017.
China
reduced buying due to a lot of inventory from last year and with a drop
in shrimp price so this market stopped before making large orders.
Moreover, as China increasingly tightens import and export activities
through border, the imports and exports of shrimp to China is also
somewhat affected.
In
10 years (2008-2017), Vietnam shrimp export to China tended to grow
well, with the next year higher than the previous year. China is the
fastest growing shrimp market among the major markets importing
Vietnamese shrimp during this period.
In
terms of products, the proportion of exported tiger shrimp to China is
always the highest compared to whiteleg shrimp and marine shrimp. As of
November 2018, in the total structure of exported shrimp products to
China, whiteleg shrimp accounted for 30.8% while tiger shrimp accounted
for 64.7%. Export of black tiger shrimp to China in the first 11 months
of 2018 increased by 14% while export of whiteleg shrimp decreased by
43% compared to the same period last year.
China
is the 6th largest shrimp import market in the world, accounting for
3.5% of total world shrimp imports in 2017. The demand for importing
shrimp for domestic consumption and re-export processing of China is
still stable and shrimp is always the product that gains most attention
in seafood exhibitions in China.
Vietnam
ranked 8th among the main shrimp suppliers to China, accounting for
1.8% of the market share. Vietnam still has to compete with rivals in
Asia such as Thailand accounting for 16.1% market share, India
accounting for 9.7%, Indonesia accounting for 2% in 2017.
In
terms of import prices, the price of shrimp imports from India and
Indonesia is always the most competitive. The average import price from
Thailand is the highest, followed by the price of Vietnamese shrimp.
With
stable demand for shrimp and favorable geographical position,
enterprises need to improve product quality and focus more on branding
and packaging in accordance with the Chinese market to maintain exports
to this market.
VIFEP (Vasep)
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