Vietnam remains biggest shrimp supplier for Australia

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According to the Vietnam Trade Office in Australia, Vietnam sold more than 18,000 tonnes of shrimp worth over US$167 million in January-August, up 2.1% in volume but down 9.2% in value compared to the same period last year.

Australia is the ninth largest shrimp importer in the world, making up about 1.9% of global shrimp export revenues.It is also the seventh biggest shrimp consumer of Vietnam, comprising 3.3% of the country’s shrimp exports.

Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Australia registered the highest growth in March and September 2016 with respective increases of 18.4% and 10.4% year-on-year.

In September alone, the Southeast Asian nation grossed over US$12 million in revenues, up 10.4% against the same months of 2015.

The Vietnam Trade Office said Vietnam has been the biggest provider of shrimp for Australia over the past five years. However, due to strict requirements on food hygiene from the market, Vietnam is still unable to export frozen raw shrimp.

Vietnamese agencies are working with the Australian side to bring this product to the country.

In the fourth quarter of 2016, a delegation of Australian experts will conduct a fact-finding tour to Vietnam to inspect its standards for exporting raw shrimp.