(Yicai) June 19 -- China beat the United States to become Vietnam’s largest shrimp importer in the first five months of this year.

From January to May, Vietnam exported USD260 million of shrimp to China, a 21 percent surge from a year ago, the Chinese commerce ministry announced today, citing data from the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers. In comparison, the Southeast Asian nation exported USD229 million of shrimp to the US, merely a 1 percent increase.

In total, Vietnam sold USD1.3 billion of shrimp, up by 7 percent, to 103 markets around the world.

The data show that China has swiftly boosted its consumption of seafood this year. Last year, Vietnam still exported USD682 million of shrimp to the US and USD550 million of such produce to China.

China is the most important overseas market for Vietnam’s agricultural and aquatic products, making up 23 percent of such exports, according to data released by the Vietnamese embassy in China.

Editor: Emmi Laine