Russia confirms its leading positions as leading importer of pangasius

Russia and Poland have emerged as the main markets for pangasius exports from Viet Nam, the shipments to the both destinations growing enormously, according to Globefish in the course of 2006.

In 2005 Viet Nam exported to Russia 3,049 tonnes of pangasius (5,589,000 USD) and in 2006 it increased to 42, 779 tonnes already (83,229,000 USD). In fact, Russia bought 11.2% of Vietnamese catfish exports in 2006.

However, the prospects of further advance on the Russian market are clouded by tighter hygiene and food safety controls being implemented by Russian vet authorities.

In this connection Viet Nam's Ministry of Fisheries urged seafood producers and exporters to obtain food hygiene certificates provided by Russia's Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance Service (VPSS) for the seafood consignments destined to the Eastern European nation, while following the strict procedures on packing and encoding required by the National Fisheries Quality and Veterinary Directorate (NAFIQAVED), Globefish pointed out.

Earlier Russian Chief vet Head Sergei Dankvert warned that only the processors approved by Russian inspectors will be able to export to this lucrative market.