A series of lobster orders to China are stuck.

SGGPO 11/07/2023 19:15

There is still a lot of domestically farmed commercial shrimp, but currently, live lobster batches for export cannot be sent to the Chinese market (including the quantity ordered by import partners).

Nuôi tôm hùm bông ở tỉnh Khánh Hòa. Ảnh: BÁO KHÁNH HÒA

Spiny lobster farming in Khanh Hoa province. Photo: KHANH HOA NEWSPAPER

On November 7, the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, issued a document to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of coastal provinces and cities with lobster farming; and fisheries associations in provinces with lobster farming, requesting that while waiting for an official response from the General Department of Customs of China, in order to maintain, develop and minimize losses for lobster farmers (especially for spiny lobsters), it is necessary to closely monitor market information to advise people to choose the farming species (reduce spiny lobster farming, increase green lobster farming) and harvest at the appropriate time.

At the same time, the Department of Fisheries recommends that localities update complete information in the diary, keep records and related documents to serve traceability when requested; properly manage the quality of shrimp seeds, medicine to prevent and treat lobster diseases...

The Department of Fisheries also requested the Vietnam Fisheries Association and fisheries associations of provinces and centrally run cities to promptly inform members about the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's direction to strengthen lobster farming management.

According to information from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Linh Phat Seafood Trading and Service Company Limited (Cam Ranh City, Khanh Hoa Province) has just sent a document to the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development, Center for Quality of Agricultural, Forestry and Fisheries Products Region 3. Accordingly, it reflects that currently, live lobsters from Vietnam are almost impossible to export to the Chinese market, while the domestic output of commercial lobsters is still very large and of great value.

Businesses said that many orders placed by partners in China for the year-end market and Lunar New Year cannot be delivered to this market. In addition, blue lobsters are also stuck and customs clearance is quite slow.

The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development has sent a document to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien about this situation.

This unit reported that it had sent a document to the Embassy and the Trade Office of Vietnam in China; and at the same time sent a document to the Nanning Customs Department and the General Department of Customs of China requesting the direction of the Dongxing Border Gate Customs (China, opposite to the Mong Cai Border Gate of Vietnam) to remove obstacles.

According to information from the Embassy, the Vietnam Trade Office in China, the Animal and Plant Quarantine Supervision Department, the General Administration of Customs of China has received the request from the Vietnamese side. However, because the Chinese side is busy at this time, they will try to arrange to work in the near future.

According to SGGP Newspaper's investigation, the Chinese authorities' increased inspection of the origin of lobster products not only applies to the Vietnamese market but also to many markets exporting lobsters to China. Recently, some information has been published that China is diversifying its lobster import sources from Canada, the US, New Zealand, Cuba, India, Brazil, Mexico, etc., which could potentially affect the supply and demand for exports to Vietnam.

The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development said that it will continue to contact the Embassy and the Vietnamese Trade Office in China to request that the Chinese side promptly arrange a direct meeting to discuss and promptly resolve difficulties for businesses. If necessary, this unit will advise the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to send a document to the General Department of Customs of China to discuss specifically on this content.

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