Mexico – Potential market for Vietnam pangasius

At present, Mexico is considered as a big, stable and potential importing market of Vietnamese pangasius. Until the end of June, 2010, Mexico has been the fifth biggest pangasius importer from Vietnam, behind the U.S., Spain, Germany and the Netherlands, reports www.megafishnet.com with reference to VASEP.

In first six months of this year, Vietnam's seafood export to Mexico increased by 37.7% in volume and 27.5% in value compared to the same period of 2009. Shrimps and pangasius are the two main export items of Vietnam to this market.

However, shrimp exports only accounted for a small amount of value. From January to June, 2010 Vietnam only exported 45 tonnes of shrimps, valued at 402,000 USD to Mexico. Many Vietnamese shrimp exporters confirmed in recent years, too severe import rules in Mexico have hindered Vietnam shrimps from entering this market.

In contrast, recently, pangasius export to Mexico have substantially developed. Product quality checking in this country is not as complicated as in some other markets such as the U.S. and EU. While in 2004, there were only 24 enterprises exporting to Mexico, in 2009 this figure doubled to 54.

Before 2006, Mexican consumers were ambiguous with pangasius of Vietnam, but now they can buy Vietnamese pangasius in most super-markets and big markets in Mexico such as: Wal - Mart, Costco, Chedraui, Superama, Soriana.

In the first six months of 2010, Mexico imported more than 17,000 tonnes of pangasius, valued at 37.33 million USD from Vietnam.

Some of Vietnamese pangasius exporters to Mexico shared their opinions that in the past, this market favoured frozen pangasius but now they are concerning about value-added products.

Until now, many Vietnamese pangasius exporters are moving successfully toward this market such as: Hung Vuong Corp, Bianfishco, Thimaco, CL-Fish, Navico, Thufico, Bien Dong Seafood, Ocean Food Corp.