In the first 6 months of this year, the export of pangasius to the Middle East market reached USD 70.8 million, 8.6% less compared to the same period last year. The closure of the Saudi market: 1 of the 3 largest export markets of Vietnamese companies of panga in recent years has caused the export value to this market to decrease.
Last year, the Vietnamese panga increased exports to the two largest markets, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt, to try to maintain growth in the Middle East, and then by moving to the first half of this year, the export value of these two markets showed signs of decline and then stabilized.
In particular, the United Arab Emirates remains the largest importer of vietnamese pangasius, however, the export value of pangasius from Vietnam to this market decreased by 27.9% compared to the same period last year. The Egyptian market is still the second largest market, but the export value only reached USD 18 million in the first 6 months of 2019, a little more than 4.63% compared to the same period last year. The export value to other markets, such as Iran, decreased 57.7%; Israel fell 10.5%; Jordan decreased by 10% and Lebanon also decreased by 10.9% compared to the first 6 months of 2018.
Despite the reduction of imports in some markets, exporters of pangasius are still trying to boost the export to other potential markets, especially Bahrain and Qatar. In the first half of this year, pangasius’s export value to these two markets increased sharply, Brahrain increased 209.8% to USD 14.9 million and Qatar increased 109.8% to USD 2.26 million. In addition, export to the Kuwaiti market also increased by 13.3%.
Among the top 10 export markets for Vietnamese panga, ASEAN and the Middle East are the two market blocks that are considered important and notable. But so far, the Saudi market has not yet reopened, this is a major disadvantage for Vietnamese panga exporters in recent years. This market also creates trade barriers for the Vietnamese panga by increasing the “Halal breeding program” standard when applied to both animal feed products and breeding facilities.
Indonesia has realized the export potential in the Middle East and intends to compete with the Vietnamese panga by launching the Indonesian panga brand in the United Arab Emirates, the entry market in this region.
Source: Ms. Tạ Hà / VASEP