People process tuna for export. Vietnam’s canned seafood exports soared 42% year-on-year to nearly US$55 million in the first two months of 2021 – PHOTO: VNA

HCMC – Vietnam exported canned seafood worth nearly US$55 million in the first two months of 2021, surging 42% compared with the same period last year.

Exports of canned seafood accounted for nearly 6% of the country’s total seafood exports from January to February, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

The country’s key canned seafood products included tuna, which accounted for 66% of the total, crab (13%), mackerel scad (8%), catfish (2%) and shrimp (1.6%).

Vietnamese canned seafood was exported to 55 countries and territories around the world in the first two months of the year. The 10 biggest markets imported Vietnamese canned seafood worth US$45 million, accounting for 84% of the total. Canned seafood exports to the United States soared 60% year-on-year and accounted for 40% of the total.

There were 28 enterprises exporting Vietnamese canned seafood in January and February. The 10 biggest exporters exported Vietnamese canned seafood worth US$44.5 million, accounting for 83% of the total. The three biggest exporters were Highland Dragon, Pataya and Viet Cuong Canned Food, accounting for 19.4%, 14% and 10% of the total, respectively.

Data of VASEP showed that Vietnam exported canned seafood worth over US$331 million to 90 countries and territories in 2020. The 10 biggest importers comprising the United States, Thailand, Germany, Egypt, Canada, Japan, France, Israel, Hong Kong and Jordan accounted for 73% of the total, with the United States being the biggest importer, accounting for 38%.

Most of the 10 biggest importers, except Germany, have increased imports of Vietnamese canned seafood. VASEP predicted that Vietnam’s canned seafood exports will maintain the growth momentum this year.