New record set
Minh Phu is the largest shrimp farming and processing company in the country and one of the largest shrimp exporters in the world. In 2018, the export turnover of Minh Phu increased by 20% compared to 2017 because the company has owned a closed farming and processing model, applying high technology on a large scale, thus its products are favored in many countries.
According to the report of the Directorate of Fisheries, in 2018, fishery export turnover was estimated at about US $ 9 billion, up 8.4%. In particular, most product groups increased compared to 2017. Specifically, tra fish reached US $ 2.26 billion, up 26.4%; shrimp reached US $ 3.58 billion, decreased by 7.1%; seafood group including tuna US $ 675 million, up 13.9%, etc.
Year of 2018 is a challenging year for the fisheries industry. Unusual weather conditions have caused difficulties for aquaculture sector. The main markets of the United States, EU, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, etc enhanced quality control and food safety. In particular, the yellow card of EU for Vietnam's seafood products also made it difficult for Vietnam's seafood industry.
Mr. Nguyen Hoai Nam - Deputy General Secretary of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) said that with export turnover of US $ 9 billion, seafood processing and exporting industry is gradually professionalized in implementing strategies, as well as responding to technical barriers raised by import countries. In particular, the linkage between state management agencies and enterprises has created motivation for development.
Deep processing, increasing value
In 2019, the Directorate of Fisheries will focus on bringing the Fisheries Law 2017 into effective, with the goal of increasing production value by 4.25% compared to 2018, total fishery output will reach 7.9 million tons and seafood export turnover strives to reach US $ 10 billion. Shrimp and tra fish will continue to be the two main products of the industry.
However, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan - Deputy Director of the Directorate of Fisheries warned: “Currently the fisheries sector also faces many challenges, especially climate change. Markets tend to increase protectionism, setting technical barriers to limit import of other country's seafood products”. Regarding production organization, it is quite clear for large-scale tra fish production, but for some other industries such as shrimp, the production scale is still small. This is one of the limitations in improving the value of the industry. In addition to some new areas such as tilapia farming, the study of market development is only at the first step.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong said: To achieve the target of US $ 10 billion in export turnover in 2019, the fisheries sector needs a great determination. Accordingly, it is necessary to focus on synchronous take advantages of the contents of the Fisheries Law; focus on removing the European Commission's “yellow card” for Vietnamese seafood to regain market’s trust and image. Besides, it is necessary to focus on re-evaluating the organizational structure of the industry; to attach importance to sustainable development of key farming objects, such as tra fish and brackish shrimp, in the direction of cultivating and processing high-tech products.
Mr. Phan Thanh Loc - Vice Chairman of Vietnam Food JSC, shared: According to estimates, with more than 500 thousand tons of shrimp byproducts each year, thanks to advanced technology being used, the world can generate nearly US $ 2 billion compared to US $ 300 million that we can today. The main reason is the gap in technology, machinery and equipment, application development as well as commercial strategy that has not been oriented synchronously.
Mr. Phan Thanh Loc noted, byproducts will immediately lose value and pose a threat to the environment if it is not processed. If we have a specific orientations for industrialization and commercialization, this source of byproducts will bring great value to the fisheries sector, while contributing to protecting the environment, helping to shift the economy to deep processing.
Therefore, in the coming time, the fisheries sector needs to invest in science and technology, make the best use of available materials, and turn into value-added products that can serve people and health care sector. “Tra fish skin is a source of raw materials for collecting collagen, serving high-class customers. In addition, the study found that there are parts in tra fish such as bone meal, nano calcium powder or a lot of fish oil products that can be converted into functional or cosmetic products. In the coming time, we will work with enterprises to continue to research such products”, said Mr. Tran Dinh Luan.
In addition, market development issues with new products also need special attention. For each new product, support of the whole system is needed, especially the Vietnamese counseling agencies in abroad, making the products accessible to the market as quickly, best and effectively as possible.
The year of 2018 is closed, the record numbers of the fisheries industry are the result of the good business, the links of the efforts of both businesses and the State. Only by doing that, can Vietnamese shrimp and fish overcome barriers, continue their journey across the ocean.
Cat Tuong