Vietnamese seafood attracts many foreign visitors at international seafood exhibitions. Photo: T.H

Substantial potential

According to Le Hang, Director of Communications at the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers, the UAE imports around 250 thousand tons of seafood per year, worth US$750 - 800 million. The top four leading suppliers are India, Thailand, Norway, and Vietnam. India dominates with a market share of 20%-24%, primarily in frozen shrimp, while Vietnam fluctuates from 6% to 9% with frozen pangasius as its main product.

Vietnam exports around 22-24 thousand tons of seafood to the UAE annually, with a value ranging from US$50-70 million, showing there is still considerable potential in this promising market. Specifically, in the case of frozen pangasius (HS0304), Vietnam ranks first due to its pangasius exports, accounting for 40%-50% of the market share in the UAE.

However, in the case of shrimp, Vietnam ranks fifth, competing with India and Ecuador. India holds nearly 60%-70% of the market share, while Ecuador has entered the market in recent years with a 15% share, and Vietnam holds only 5%-7%.

The most imported seafood products from Vietnam to the UAE are whiteleg shrimp and frozen Vannamei shrimp, processed/preserved tuna, yellowfin and Atlantic bluefin tuna, fresh/chilled Atlantic salmon and Danube salmon, and other frozen fish, including pangasius.

Aligned with global market trends and the overall context, in the first half of 2023, Vietnamese seafood exports to the UAE decreased by over 50%, reaching more than US$17 million. In this, exports of pangasius and Vannamei shrimp both dropped by over 50%, while whiteleg shrimp exports decreased by 73%.

The UAE is a net seafood importing country, and it imports about 90% of its consumed food.

With an increasing population, higher income, rapid urbanization, rising disposable income, and a preference for seafood protein among the youth, coupled with projected tourism growth, seafood consumption is expected to rise.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO), the UAE consumes over 220,000 tons of seafood annually, with an average seafood consumption per capita of 28.6 kg per year, higher than the global average.

Positive signals from the UAE market

According to the analysis by Hang, the economic prospects of the UAE remain positive, with a projected GDP growth of 3.6% in 2023. Despite the geopolitical challenges that the global economy is currently facing, the UAE's economy is poised for strong growth, recovery, and prosperity in the latter half of this year. The economic achievements have led to the UAE being honored as a major global economy - an economy oriented towards innovation. These signals offer hope for exporting businesses currently facing difficulties in major markets such as the EU, the US, and China.

The UAE's progress in implementing comprehensive economic partnership agreements will enhance trade and integration into the global value chain, serving as significant drivers for economic growth. Currently, the UAE has signed free trade agreements (FTA) with many countries, including India, Malaysia, Singapore, and New Zealand. India seems to have effectively utilized the tariff advantages in this market to increase its market share in recent years.

Key imported seafood products into the UAE, including pangasius, tuna, and other marine fish, are subject to a 5% import tax. Businesses anticipated that countries would open up more to Vietnamese seafood exports in this market if Vietnam negotiated a 0% import tax rate for seafood into the UAE after signing the bilateral FTA with the UAE.

However, alongside the tariff issue, the most challenging aspect for Vietnamese seafood exporting businesses to the UAE is the requirements related to Halal certification by importers. If this matter is addressed by relevant authorities and businesses, Vietnamese seafood can not only conquer the UAE market but also tap into the potential Middle Eastern region.