Vietnamese seafood imports from India skyrocket in first eight months

In the first eight months, seafood imports reached nearly $1.35 billion, $228.2 million of which came from India

According to the General Department of Customs, in August, Vietnam's import turnover decreased by 15 per cent compared to July and 3 per cent compared to August 2020, to nearly $147.5 million.

However, in the first eight months, seafood imports still increased with an increase in import turnover of nearly $1.35 billion, up 17 per cent on-year.

The top five markets supplying seafood to Vietnam are India, Norway, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan.

Notably, in the first eight months, Vietnam imported the most seafood from the Indian market, with an import turnover of $228.2 million, accounting for 17 per cent of the total seafood import turnover, a sharp increase of 41 per cent on-year. In August, imports increased by 4 per cent compared to July and increased by 64 per cent on-year, reaching over $40.2 million.

Imports from Norway in August decreased 9 per cent on-month and 3 per cent on-year, reaching $16.2 million. However, for the first eight months, the turnover increased 17 per cent on-year, reaching $156.7 million, accounting for 12 per cent of the total import turnover.

Seafood imports from Southeast Asia decreased 22 per cent on-month in August and 19 per cent on-year, reaching $13.2 million. For the whole first eight months, import turnover still increased by 20 per cent on-year, reaching $144.9 million and accounting for 10.8 per cent of the total.

Imports from China also decreased 14 per cent on-month in August but increased 9 per cent on-year to $12.5 million. Accumulated in the first eight months, it still increased by 35 per cent on-year, reaching $115.3 million (9 per cent of the total).

In addition to the above markets, Vientam also imported from Indonesia, Taiwan, South Korea, Russia, Chile, and the US.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), since the beginning of the year, Vietnam's import volume of seafood (mainly raw materials for processing and export) has still increased, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in India, its main market.