Finding a way to remove the "traffic jam" of lobsters to China

SGGPO 11/08/2023 10:27

For nearly 2 months now, lobsters have been almost completely blocked from entering the Chinese market.

Giá tôm hùm giảm mạnh do thương lái ngừng thu mua

Lobster prices drop sharply as traders stop buying

On November 7, SGGP newspaper reported that a series of lobster breeding, collecting, and exporting facilities in the Central region were unable to send shipments to China (for spiny lobsters) or were subject to increased frequency of inspections and very slow customs clearance (for green lobsters).

An update from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that recently, this agency has received feedback from a number of lobster exporting establishments in provinces such as Khanh Hoa, Phu Yen and the Phu Yen Fisheries Association about China temporarily suspending the import of spiny lobsters. Currently, the functional units of the ministry have not received an official notice from the Chinese import authorities regarding the reason for the suspension or slow customs clearance.

However, according to information from lobster collecting and exporting businesses, Chinese authorities have strictly applied measures to control the origin of lobsters imported from other countries, including the export of live lobsters from Vietnam to the Chinese market.

According to information from a business in Cam Ranh (Khanh Hoa), the Chinese import partner sent a letter and said, "wild lobsters are an endangered species. If a country wants to import farmed spiny lobsters, it must provide the following documents before applying for an import license: certificate of artificially raised lobsters, certificate of special management for wild aquatic animals in China, certificate of approval of wild aquatic animals originating from abroad".

According to this information, it can be understood that Chinese authorities are strengthening control over the origin of lobsters imported into the Chinese market.

To adapt to this new policy of China, the Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) recommends that localities fully update information in the diary, keep records and related documents to serve traceability when requested.

In recent times, Vietnam's lobster consumption market has mainly been exported to China through unofficial channels. However, since September, exports have been very difficult, and at present, live lobsters have almost frozen; other types of shrimp and seafood have had their inspection levels increased by 50% (for example, 1 ton of shrimp imported is inspected for 500kg).

Due to the lack of export markets, traders have stopped collecting, causing lobster farmers to worry about losing capital. Information from Khanh Hoa province shows that spiny lobsters are mainly raised in Van Phong Bay, Van Ninh District. Of the total 35,000 cages raising lobsters in Van Ninh District, nearly 50% are raising spiny lobsters, mainly concentrated in Van Thanh Commune. It is expected that from now until the end of the year, there will be about 400 tons of commercial spiny lobsters that need to be consumed. Currently, the price has dropped from 1.6 - 2.1 million VND/kg to only about 1.1 million VND.

The Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) has sent a document to the Vietnamese Embassy and Trade Office in China and the Nanning Customs Department - General Administration of Customs of China, requesting to resolve this issue.

While waiting for an official response from the General Administration of Customs of China, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development said that it is expected that on November 15, in Nha Trang City (Khanh Hoa), the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development will organize a forum on seed supply, traceability and sustainable marine farming solutions in Vietnam. The content of the forum will focus on solutions for sustainable lobster farming, traceability of lobster and marine farming products.

Source