Vietnam was estimated to have reaped a total of $2.396 billion from shrimp exports in 2011, up 13.7% from 2010, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) said on its website on Jan 16th, 2012.

Vietnam exported shrimps to 91 countries in the year. Of which, Japan market took the highest shares with $0.6 billion (25.3% of the total shrimp export value), followed by the U.S ($0.58 billion), E.U ($0.41 billion), China (HongKong included with $0.22 billion) and Korea ($0.16 billion).

One of the reason that pushed the Vietnam’s shrimp exports increased in the last year is the supply shortage from major shrimp producers such as Indonesia, China and Vietnam.

The increase in price and high demand are advantages for Vietnam’s shrimp exporters. However, recently Vietnam’s shrimp exporters have been facing problems of enrofloxacin residue found in many shrimp shipments from Vietnam.

Japan already requested enrofloxacin tests for 100% shrimp imported from Vietnam and its possible that the U.S will apply the checking in the near future.

The Directorate of Fisheries is compiling the official document to submit MARD for approval of prohibition of using antibiotic enrofloxacin in shrimp farming. The ban is expected to be issued prior to February, when the new shrimp crop begins.

The effectiveness of the prohibition will mark a positive step for Vietnam’s shrimp industry, Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said.

Source TEI/StoxPlus