Vietnam’s shrimp exports target the EU

In the first eleven months of 2014, the country’s shrimp exports to EU rose by 71.7% compared to the same period in 2013.

Last year, Vietnamese shrimps were more advantaged than those from Thailand and India.

The Thai prawn industry was badly affected after the Guardian UK carried adverse information in June 2014 accusing Thailand of slavery in its fishing industry. "If you buy prawns or shrimp from Thailand, you will be buying the produce of slave labour," says Aidan McQuade, director of Anti-Slavery International.

Immediately after that, in June, France’s Carrefour Group, the second largest retailer in the world stopped buying shrimps from Thailand.

Moreover, since last year, Thailand’s processed shrimps to the EU no longer enjoyed GSP (Global Strategic Priorities) and therefore the tax was up to 20%.

In the first eight months of 2014, India’s shrimp exports to the EU showed a year-on-year increase of 83.5% and it was one of the ten leading shrimp suppliers to the market.

However, in the remaining months of last year, EU warning of non-therapeutic use of antibiotics in shrimp raising caused difficulties to India in exporting shrimps to the market. 

Source: VOV