After a decline in exports in 2023, Vietnam's shellfish exports will continue to decline in the first months of 2024. According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the export turnover of this product group in the first 3 months of 2024 reached 30 million USD, down 8% compared to the same period in 2023.

Among Vietnam's shellfish exports, clams are still the main product, accounting for 60% of the total shellfish export value. Compared to the same period in 2023, clam exports decreased by nearly 8% over the same period. Brown clam products, frozen boiled white clams and clam meat accounted for the largest proportion with a value of 17.5 million USD, down 7.4% over the same period last year. The remaining products are frozen and iced whole clams.

Oysters are the second most exported product and one of the two products with growth over the same period last year, up 22%. Vietnam exports mainly fresh oysters to markets such as Taiwan, Laos...

This year, Vietnam's snail exports are not as high as last year, only reaching nearly 3 million USD, down 24%. The export value of this product is even lower than the export of scallops (reaching 3.5 million USD).

Currently, the EU is the largest import market for Vietnam's shellfish products, accounting for more than 56% of total export turnover, followed by Taiwan accounting for nearly 14% and the US accounting for nearly 10%.

This year, although exports to Spain, the largest import market for Vietnam's shellfish, increased by 26%, exports to other EU countries decreased sharply. Therefore, total exports to the EU in the first 3 months of this year only reached more than 17 million USD, down 10% over the same period.

Exports to the US were also not better than those to the EU, down 6%, reaching nearly 3 million USD. Meanwhile, exports to Taiwan tended to grow continuously in the first 3 months of this year.

There are currently 36 Vietnamese companies with clam products for export. The top 3 largest companies include Thanh Hoa Seafood Import-Export Joint Stock Company (HASUVIMEX) accounting for 24% of the export proportion, Lenger Vietnam Seafood Company accounting for nearly 19% and Minh Dang Company Limited accounting for nearly 13%.

The market is being driven by several factors, including growing demand for bivalves as an intact food source. Therefore, the opportunity to promote the export of Vietnam's shellfish species will be increasingly high, if we have enough raw materials.

Source: VASEP