Seafood exports increase competitiveness through quality

Improving the quality of seed sources

According to many experts, in the last months of the year, due to high demand, the inventory of importers usually decreases, businesses enter a new import cycle, along with the wave of shifting orders from the US and the potential from Chinese orders... will help boost the export potential of the seafood industry.

Therefore, to achieve the export target for the whole year of 2024 as well as increase competition in the export market, many localities have been implementing quality improvements right from the seed source.

As the two main export products of the Vietnamese seafood industry, shrimp export turnover accounts for over 40% annually, and pangasius accounts for over 20% of the total seafood export turnover. Therefore, in order for pangasius to meet the quality standards of the export market and maintain the market, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) said that the first step requires a source of disease-free fish that meets quality standards.

The latest technologies need to be applied to the pangasius industry, in which high-quality fish is the key step and decisive factor for the sustainable development of the pangasius industry.

By early October, shrimp exports brought Vietnam nearly 3 billion USD, up more than 10% over the same period last year. Illustration: Nguyen Hien

Regarding shrimp seeds, the locality is considered the center of shrimp seed production in the country, annually supplying 40 - 50 billion shrimp seeds, meeting 35 - 40% of the country's shrimp seed demand, the Ninh Thuan Shrimp Seed Association recommends continuing to strengthen management and strictly control the quality of imported parent shrimp. For parent shrimp of domestic origin, it is necessary to periodically organize testing and post-inspection to check and re-evaluate the quality of parent shrimp.

Strengthen management, inspection and supervision, aiming to stipulate mandatory application of biosafety procedures in hatcheries. There are solutions and mechanisms for close coordination and linkage between farming areas and production areas, and production of shrimp seeds according to orders.

Shifting towards green trends

In addition to improving the quality of seed sources, the trend of aquaculture and seafood processing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions will also help businesses ensure environmental indicators in accordance with international certifications.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), the shift towards green, circular production is a trend of many seafood businesses to better meet the requirements of regulations, laws, and environmental standards.

Processing pangasius for export. Illustrative photo: CM

However, pursuing a green export strategy does not immediately help businesses achieve good financial performance, but it takes time for businesses to create and develop competitive advantages. When businesses have achieved competitive advantages in the export market, then they will achieve financial performance.

Many large seafood companies such as: Skretting Vietnam, De Heus, Minh Phu, Thang Long, Vietnam Food (VNF) ... are investing in research and development towards aquaculture with net emission reduction.

According to Mr. Nguyen Thanh My, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Rynan Technologies Company, applying digital technology to seafood value chain management helps to manage resources more effectively, minimize losses and improve product quality. Technologies such as IoT, blockchain and AI can help monitor and predict factors affecting the farming environment, thereby making timely adjustments to reduce negative impacts on the environment.

Although the transition to a green economy brings many benefits, this process also faces many challenges. First is the high cost of transition and the limitation of modern technology in the aquaculture industry. Many farmers and small businesses have difficulty applying new technology due to lack of capital and knowledge.

In addition, traditional production habits that have been formed for a long time are also a major barrier, requiring changes in people's thinking and awareness.

"However, the transition to a green-oriented seafood production and processing model not only helps protect the environment, minimize negative impacts on resources, but also enhances competitiveness, opening up opportunities to access international markets that increasingly prioritize green, clean and sustainable products," affirmed Mr. Nguyen Thanh My.