Vietnamese Tuna Export Turnover Up 23% In Q1ff

Vietnam has earned a total of US $26 million from exports of 5,800 tonnes of tuna in the first quarter of this year, up 23% in turnover and 15% in quantity compared to the same period last year.

According to the Vietnam Trade Information Centre, under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the price of Vietnamese exported tuna in March suddenly increased sharply, hitting US $6.1 a kilogram.

The key reason is due to the increase in the price of petrol, plus the increase in exports to the EU and sharp reduction in world catching production.

It is predicted that the average export price of tuna in the second quarter will remain stable above US $6 a kilogram.

In the first two months of this year, Italy and Israel were the two most notable import markets of Vietnamese tuna.

Italy was the biggest importer of Vietnamese tuna in the first two months of 2008. The country spent US $3.7 million to imported 904 tons of tuna from Vietnam, up more than three times in quantity and four times in turnover compared to the same period last year.

During the period, exports to the two traditional markets of Japan and the US reduced considerably. Exports to the US dropped by 40% in quantity and 52% in turnover compared to the same period last year.