Major importers in the first two months this year were the US, Japan, China and the Republic of Korea, accounting for 50.5% of the total. Notably, markets seeing strong export growths included the Netherlands (49.7%), Thailand (35.3%) and China (34.9%).  During March, aquatic products import reached US$151 million, bringing the total value in three months to US$423 million, marking a 32.4% year-on-year increase. 

In the first quarter, the total aquatic production rose by 4% to 775,800 tonnes, 740,800 tonnes of which was tapped at sea and the remaining was home-grown. 

The total tuna output was estimated at 6,406 tonnes in the three-month period, including 3,676 tonnes in the central province of Khanh Hoa, 1,500 tonnes in the central province of Binh Dinh and 1,230 tonnes in the central province of Phu Yen. 

Meanwhile, tra fish production in the Mekong Delta was estimated at 230,200 tonnes, up 5.1% year-on-year, mostly in An Giang, Dong Thap and Vinh Long. 

Tiger prawn output was 42,300 tonnes while white-legged shrimp output hit 40,300 tonnes.