China accounts for 99% of Vietnam's lobster export market.

The information was given at the Conference "Current status of supply of seeds, feed, and materials for marine aquaculture; traceability of product origin and solutions for sustainable development of marine aquaculture in Vietnam" organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in coordination with the People's Committee of Khanh Hoa province in person and online on the morning of November 25.

China is the main market for Vietnamese lobsters.

Mr. Tran Cong Khoi - Head of Aquatic Breeds and Feed Department - Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - informed that the value of lobster export turnover in the first 6 months of 2023 of Vietnam reached nearly 130 million USD, 30 times higher than the same period last year.

Toàn cảnh Hội nghị (ảnh báo Nông nghiệp Việt Nam)

Conference Overview

At one point, the price doubled to VND1.7 million/kg for spiny lobsters and VND1.3 million/kg for green lobsters. The main reason was the increased demand for seafood in other countries, especially in Vietnam's largest lobster import market, China, which has reopened after a long period of closure to prevent Covid-19.

Regarding the export of spiny lobster to the Chinese market, Mr. Le Ba Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - informed that currently, green lobster and spiny lobster are the main lobster export products. Among Vietnam's lobster export markets, China accounts for 98 - 99%; other markets such as Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong (China), Taiwan account for 1 - 2%.

In the Chinese market alone, Vietnam currently has 46 packaging facilities exporting lobsters to this market (out of a total of 57 live seafood packaging facilities exported to China). In the first 9 months of 2023, lobster exports to the Chinese market reached more than 95 million USD (down more than 46% compared to the same period in 2022).

In order for lobsters to enter the Chinese market, Mr. Le Ba Anh said, businesses need to ensure that the requirements of the National Food Safety Management System are assessed and recognized as equivalent by the General Administration of Customs of China. Exported products are on the list recognized by China (128 species/product types and 48 species of live aquatic animals).

In addition, the farming facilities are inspected by local aquaculture/veterinary management agencies, certified for food safety conditions, veterinary hygiene conditions, given codes, and samples are taken to monitor diseases during the farming process. Export shipments are granted certificates; the daily list of certificates is sent to China Customs (Nanning) for comparison...

Many new regulations of China on exporting spiny lobster

Notably, from February 1, 2021, the Chinese market has regulated that the spiny lobster is in the endangered group II list. In May 2023, China amended the Law on Wildlife Protection, which prohibits the capture of animals on the endangered list issued in 2021. In particular, wild spiny lobster is prohibited from being caught, used, and traded. The General Department of Customs of China has directed the Customs system at border gates to strictly control the import of naturally harvested spiny lobster. "Not only the Chinese market, spiny lobster is in group II, the List of endangered and rare aquatic species of Vietnam (according to Appendix II, Decree 26/2019/ND-CP)", Mr. Le Ba Anh added.

Lobster export

For the identification of farmed lobsters, not directly caught, must go through the farming process. If the juveniles are exploited from the wild, they are also considered wild-caught lobsters. Chinese importers who want to import must apply for a license from the Fisheries Bureau (Ministry of Agriculture of China).

In addition, the exporting country must compile statistics on farming facilities and output; register lobster farming facilities; and register export packaging facilities with the General Administration of Customs of China for approval (the Department of Quality, Processing and Market Development has issued Documents No. 1388 and 1389/CCPT-ATTP dated November 23, 2023 to guide statistics and registration). The registration form and information will be sent through the Vietnam Trade Office in China. After receiving the information, the Chinese Customs will check directly and online before approving.

Regarding this issue, Mr. Phan Quang Minh - Deputy Director of the Department of Animal Health (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) - said that the lobster management measures were changed by China in 2023, defining farmed lobsters as originating from F2 breeds.

Not only facing market difficulties, according to experts, lobster seeds are heavily dependent on imported shrimp from Indonesia, Philippines, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and Singapore. In 2022, the number of imported seeds was 81 million; in the first 6 months of 2023, this number was 59 million.

However, the lobster industry is facing some difficulties such as some countries banning exports, resulting in unstable supply; in July 2023, the authorities discovered 5 batches of shrimp seeds imported from Malaysia infected with white spot disease caused by the virus - WSSV.

Lobster food is completely fresh, including trash fish, golden apple snails, mollusks, crabs... used in cages, this causes environmental pollution and disease.

In addition, the supply of food for lobsters is also unstable, making it difficult to control the supply. Meanwhile, industrial food is only used to raise shrimp in tanks; it is not suitable for sea cage farming. Although industrial food helps control diseases and the environment, it can only be deployed on a small scale.

Referring to the upcoming requirements of the Chinese market for lobster seeds, Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - suggested that relevant units need to focus on research and solutions.

Recalling the Marine Economic Development Strategy, the leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development emphasized the need to shift from traditional aquaculture and seafood exploitation to industrial and high-tech applications. Promoting sustainable aquaculture and seafood exploitation activities... with the goal of making the fishing industry resilient in its efforts, modern in its production, improving its level in integration and accelerating its exports.

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