VASEP has forecast lower production in 2013, which together with other measures should help stabilize pangasius prices. Imports into the EU took a step back with the on-going Euro-crisis while US imports grew marginally. Elsewhere, demand remains strong for pangasius fillet and is being met by both local and imported sources.

Viet Nam

The Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) has forecast lower production of pangasius in 2013 at about 800 000 tonnes compared with 1.2-1.5 million tonnes previously targeted. Production in the first seven months of 2013 was lower than a year ago with output from the main producing regions down by an average of 10%. VASEP reports that market and price volatility discouraged farmers while many processors barely made profits. 

During the period January-June 2013, VASEP reported USD 850 million worth of pangasius exports from Viet Nam, down marginally (-0.5%) from the same period last year. The US remains the single largest market with nearly 13% more import value from last year with about 52 000 tonnes. The European Union, however, took a smaller share. Latin America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East showed higher import values. Central American markets, namely Brazil, Mexico and Colombia, also imported more from Viet Nam. 

Meanwhile, VASEP has proposed setting up one company to represent all local pangasius exporters in selling products to the EU in a move to cut costs and prevent excessive  competition and price reductions among local exporters. The proposed company will sell Vietnamese pangasius directly to EU supermarkets and distributors at an electronic auction in Belgium’s Zeebrugge port. Belgium will send experts to Viet Nam to assist in selling pangasius directly to EU distributors from Zeebrugge port. 

Philippines

The Department of Trade and Industry is offering its service facilities to the pangasius industry as part of a plan to help develop the sector. The department has offered to lend its facilities to be shared by priority industry clusters and has done an initial identification of areas that want to avail themselves of these facilities. The facilities will provide an area where equipment for pangasius processing can be shared by several cooperatives. The facilities are similar to the fish processing plants that have already been set up in other areas.

The shared service programme aims to help develop micro, small and medium scale enterprises to be more competitive in local and foreign markets. It has a budget allocation of around PHP 700 million (USD 16 million).

The trade department said it aims to set up 800 such facilities nationwide. The agency has several pilot projects for the pangasius industry in Regions 3 to 5 and 8 to 12. Pangasius was introduced to the country in 1981. Between January and May 2013 the Philippines imported 42% more pangasius fillet from Viet Nam at 5 955 tonnes compared with a year ago.

India

Pangasius imports have come to a standstill in the last two months because of the weakening Indian rupee. However, during the January-May 2013 period, India imported 2 291 tonnes of frozen pangasius fillet from Viet Nam compared with only 981 tonnes a year before, the Ministry of Commerce reports. Pangasius fillet is widely used in the catering sector. Meanwhile, locally produced pangasius fillet is making steady inroads in the market although the fillet size is smaller compared with imported pangasius.

USA

Pangasius

During the first half of 2013, frozen catfish imports increased only marginally (+4.2%) to reach 52 397 tonnes compared with a year ago, constrained by  tight supply from the major producer, Viet Nam. In a move to help strengthen prices, nine Vietnamese exporters will be reducing their export volume to 5 000 tonnes a month from the earlier 12 244 tonnes. 

Domestic catfish

August has been designated as National Catfish Month to honour US catfish farmers, recognizing contributions that the United States catfish industry have made to the economy since the 1980s. The southern states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas produce most of the nation’s catfish. Mississippi is the leading producer of farm-raised catfish but Texans eat more catfish that any other state. Belzoni, Mississippi is also known as the catfish capital of the world and hosts the Annual World Catfish Festival. 

EU

In the first six months of 2013, imports of frozen pangasius fillet into the EU-27 declined by 12% from the same period last year reaching 69 841 tonnes, in contrast to the positive trend seen during the first quarter of 2013.  Spain remains the largest importer within the EU and absorbed 14% more with nearly 16 000 tonnes compared with the same period last year. Denmark, Greece, Lithuania, Romania and Sweden imported more. Average import prices declined by 14% to USD 2.38/kg compared with the same time last year.

Asia

Pangasius imports into Asian markets were generally positive from January to June 2013 with most countries buying more. Imports into Singapore, Thailand, China, Republic of Korea, India and Japan all increased by an average of 50%. Approximately 30 000 tonnes of frozen pangasius fillet was imported into Asian countries during this period compared with about 20 000 tonnes a year ago. Demand for pangasius remains strong in Asia within households as well as in the catering sector. However, imports into Indonesia were negligible because of the stringent government regulations to ensure the quality of imported fish as well as to encourage consumption of local fish. The government is also targeting local production of pangasius and hopes to reach 1.1 million tonnes this year.

Outlook

Global supply of pangasius is likely to be lower this year with the major producer Viet Nam forecasting a nearly 40% decline in production. More products will be diverted to other markets besides the depressed EU market where imports have waned. Supplies to fulfill the steady demand from across the globe will also come from other producers worldwide but particularly in Asia.