HANOI, Sept. 22 (Xinhua) -- The Vietnam's tuna export turnover hit 87 million U.S. dollars in August, the highest so far this year, according to latest statistics of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.
After declining steadily, exports to the United States increased by 2 percent, which was bolstered by a 24 percent jump in shipments of canned tuna, local media reported on Friday.
Vietnam's tuna exports to the European Union saw a 37 percent surge, including a 45-fold rise in shipments to Italy.
Smaller markets like Thailand and the Philippines also bought more tuna.
While the frozen tuna exports have decreased continuously since the beginning of the year, canned tuna exports tend to increase towards the end of the year, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said.
The total tuna exports turnover for the year has reached 545 million dollars, down 25 percent from the same period last year.
The association forecasted that total tuna export orders will increase sharply in the final months of the year due to decreasing inventories in major export markets. ■