From SeafoodNews on April 8, China imported 290,000 tons of frozen fish in January-February this year, increased up to 99.8% compared with the same period last year. Basa fish is one of the main imported types, the import volume of which increased by 77%, reaching 32,200 tons.

China's import of basa fish bumped up to 12,800 tons in February, surpassing the level of imports from 2019 to February 2021.

Export of basa fish from Vietnam, one of China's main suppliers of the fish, surged 240% to $85.88 million in the first two months of the year and are expected to remain at high levels in the coming months.

In addition to China, the U.S. is also showing interest in Vietnamese basa fish, which accounted for 24.5% of Vietnam's total exports to the U.S. in January this year.

Vietnam's basa fish exporters say Vietnamese seafood processors, especially small and medium-sized ones, have to raise prices to cover costs. In addition to processing costs, transportation costs are also rising. With the oil prices rising, shipping costs are also going higher.

The cost of shipping from Vietnam to China, for example, has jumped to about $6,000 per container and could even reach $6,500 if transport costs from the factory to the port of departure are included, and those costs are expected to rise further.