Vietnam shrimp exports to Japan boosted thanks to black tiger shrimp

However, Vietnam still remained the top position in supplying shrimp to Japan in the first 4 months of 2014. Whereas shrimp imports into Japan from India and Indonesia reported sharp decline in both volume and value.

Through April 2014, Vietnam shrimp exports to Japan rose 31.9 percent in value but downed 40.2 percent in volume, according to statistics of International Trade Center (ITC). The decline was attributable to Japan’s OTC inspection on Vietnam shrimp. During the period, shrimp imports into Japan from Thailand, Indonesia and India showed deep dive in both volume and value. Shrimp imports from Thailand downed 41.8 percent in volume and 34.7 percent in value. Imports from Indonesia and India downed 40.9 percent and 9.8 percent; 39.3 percent and 17.5 percent, respectively.

Compared with other shrimp suppliers to Japan, Vietnam has the advantage in supplying black tiger shrimp to the market thanks to being the largest producer of black tiger shrimp with stable output.

Black tiger shrimp price in the global market and Japanese market still stays on high while whiteleg shrimp price tends to fall down thanks to stronger supply from many producers after easing the EMS disease.

Among the top 10 leading shrimp suppliers to Japan, Argentina reported the highest growth of 94.6 percent in volume and 145.1 percent in value.

Vietnam shrimp exporters to Japan now enjoy the tariff rate of 0 percent. However, exporters have faced barriers of antibiotics and banned chemicals. In 2014, OTC detection hindered Vietnam shrimp exports to the market. However, through April 2014, the number of shrimp consignments to Japan which had OTC residues in excess of permitted limits of 0.2 ppm was reduced significantly from 4 in March to 1 consignment in April.

Vietnam shrimp exports to Japan in 2014 will obtain a higher growth if OTC problem is well-controlled and the growth in black tiger shrimp sales to the market is remained.