Viet Nam tuna exports to Portugal up 419%

Vietnam gained over US$4 million from tuna exports to Portugal in the first five months of 2013. This accounts for a phenomenal year-on-year growth of 419%, according to a report in Vietnam’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

The remarkable spike in the country’s exports growth has made Portugal amongst its largest tuna importers, says the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), whilst Viet Nam has become Portugal’s second largest tuna exporter, only next to Spain.

In the first five months of the year, Portugal imported over $2.5 million worth of tuna fillet from Viet Nam, up 941% over the same period in 2012,and 1.4 times higher as well.

Vietnam also recorded a strong surge in exporting fresh and frozen tuna products to the European country in the period, raking in more than $924,000, up 67% y-o-y.

It is also forecast that the exports of Viet Nam’s steamed tuna fillet to the European country will continue to increase in the coming time. But recent requirements of the Earth Island organisation on “Dolphin safe” label on tuna products may impact the industry.