According to the General Department of Customs, in the first half of 2024, roe topped the list of seafood products in terms of average export price. Vietnamese fish roe holds a strong position in various markets due to its competitive pricing.

On July 20, in an interview with Tuoi Tre Online, Mr. Ho Van Duy, a seafood exporter from Bình Định province, shared insights on fish roe exports during the first half of 2024.

Besides selling shrimp and fish, his company also exports herring roe and Lý Sơn and Quy Nhơn flying fish roe. "Domestically, we sell for around 320,000 - 350,000 VND/kg. For export, the selected products meet the strict market requirements, selling for over 400,000 VND/kg; sometimes nearly 500,000 VND/kg depending on the time. Early summer or the end of March in the lunar calendar, flying fish roe is abundant, so our export volume during this period is quite stable," Mr. Duy reported.

"Roe is highly nutritious and good for health. Compared to Japan or other maritime-advantaged countries, our roe has received positive feedback, making it popular among international customers," Mr. Duy added.

In recent years, "black diamonds" – Vietnamese sturgeon roe – have also appeared on the "global dining table" with quality comparable to other countries.

According to the leaders of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), since 2005, Vietnam has been farming sturgeon, a cold-water fish species. At Vietnam's aquaculture farms, there are four main species of sturgeon: Siberian sturgeon, Beluga sturgeon, Russian sturgeon, and Sterlet sturgeon, with the Siberian sturgeon being the most common.

A VASEP leader noted: "Vietnamese sturgeon has a lower feed conversion ratio and a shorter breeding time to harvest roe, along with cheap labor costs, which helps Vietnamese sturgeon roe compete with brands from temperate countries. Although the roe size is smaller than the famous types worldwide, the color and flavor are very similar, making Vietnamese sturgeon roe popular and exported back to Russia and countries like France, Belgium, and Germany."

According to the General Department of Customs, in May 2024 alone, Vietnam exported about 316 tons of fish roe at a price of USD 16.7/kg (about 420,000 VND/kg), earning USD 5.3 million.

Roe exports increased nearly 84 times compared to the same period in 2023.

According to the General Department of Customs, in the first six months of 2024, seafood exports earned USD 4.4 billion, a slight increase of 6.2% compared to the same period last year. Shrimp and pangasius accounted for a large proportion but saw only slight increases.

The most significant surge was in roe exports, with the average export price of roe increasing nearly 567% compared to the same period in 2023. Among the seafood products, roe held the top spot for average export price.

Specifically, in almost half a year, Vietnam exported 1,336 tons of fish roe, earning USD 22.2 million; an increase of nearly 84 times compared to the same period last year.

Source: Tuoi Tre Online