Last year, the total area of tilapia aquaculture at ponds and lakes nationwide spanned 15,992 hectares with total output spiking up over 25% to 125,000 tonnes compared against the prior year.
Great potential for export markets
Tilapia now has become a key aquatic product for consumers in both the domestic and foreign markets. Last year, Vietnam exported tilapia to more than 60 nations around the globe.
The top ten import markets of Vietnam’s tilapia included the US, UKSpain, Columbia, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, , Czech Republic and Italy.
The US remained the key market for tilapia at 1.745 tonnes valued at US$5.241 million, accounting for 18.2% of the country’s total market share, trailed by Spain and Colombia.
However, Vietnam’s tilapia exports have remained relatively low in relation to their potential, according to the Directorate of Fisheries.
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Accelerating tilapia exports to foreign markets
In Vietnam, with tra fish exports having encountered innumerable difficulties, the diversification of aquatic exports has become urgent. Especially, since tilapia has a great potential as a seafood export.
Many developing nations have considered tra fish an important source of protein in and it has been one of top ten seafood products in the US market, just after shrimp and salmon.
The MARD has now forecasted that tilapia exports could reach 21,000 hectares with an output of 140,000 tonnes including 50,000 tonnes for exports in 2015.
Apart from tra fish and shrimp exports, Vietnam has been striving to transform tilapia into one of its key exports with an output reaching 150,000 tonnes and export value of US$200 million-US$300 million by 2020.
