Recommendations for Vietnamese businesses in the face of radioactive shrimp contamination in Indonesia

Khuyến nghị doanh nghiệp Việt trước sự cố tôm Indonesia nhiễm xạ

Recommendations for Vietnamese businesses following the incident of Indonesian shrimp being contaminated with radiation.

With many US importers temporarily suspending orders for Indonesian shrimp due to detected radiation contamination and seeking safer alternatives, Vietnamese shrimp is expected to regain market share in this market.

The sudden drop in supply has caused a short-term shortage in the US market, while raw shrimp prices in Indonesia have plummeted due to businesses being unable to sell their stock. Therefore, countries with processing capabilities such as India, Ecuador, and Vietnam, with full certifications and quality control systems, will be viable alternatives.

In light of this situation, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Processing and Export (Vasep) recommends that Vietnamese shrimp businesses proactively turn the crisis into an opportunity in the following ways:

First, transparent testing and disclosure are crucial. Proactive testing needs to be implemented at the supply chain level – especially in farming areas, cold storage facilities, and processing plants. Having internationally recognized test results readily available will help businesses overcome new technical barriers more easily.

Furthermore, it is important to promote the export of value-added products. As confidence in safety is strengthened, processed products such as cooked shrimp, breaded shrimp, and flavored shrimp will be an attractive segment with higher profit margins, while being less affected by the strict inspection regulations applied to fresh raw materials.

Next, diversify export markets. While the US is currently the most promising market, expanding into the EU, Japan, Canada, and China simultaneously will help Vietnamese businesses avoid dependence and reduce risks when one market tightens regulations.

Source: https://vtv.vn/khuyen-nghi-doanh-nghiep-viet-truc-su-co-tom-indonesia-nhiem-xa-100251017095219209.htm