Vietnamese shrimp exports to the United Kingdom (UK) enjoyed remarkable growth in recent months, in spite of slumps in other markets.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep) cited the General Department of Vietnam Customs statistics showing that Vietnam earned 17.3 million USD from selling shrimp to the UK in the first two months of this year, up 38 percent from the same period last year.

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In the period, the UK accounted for 4.6 percent of Vietnam’s total export turnover of shrimp.

In May 2015, the UK surpassed Germany to become Vietnam’s biggest shrimp importer in the European Union.

Vasep attributed the growth to the country’s increasing demand for warm-water shrimp.

Statistics from the International Trade Centre (ITC) showed the price of Vietnamese shrimp in this market was about 11.5 USD per kilo, lower than that of Canada, Thailand and Bangladesh – the UK’s other main shrimp suppliers.

According to Vasep, the UK’s demand for warm-water shrimp is likely to continue rising in the remaining months of this year.

Vietnam’s shrimp export turnover is expected to reach 3.3 billion USD this year, a year-on-year rise of 12 percent.

Source: VNA