Vietnam was estimated to produce 740,500 metric tons (MT) of seafood in July, 4.6 percent higher year-on-year, with the growth seen in both farmed and wild-catch production, according to newly-published data from the country's General Statistics Office (GSO).
Vietnam's total output from aquaculture in July was estimated at 400,000 MT, an increase of 4.7 percent year-on-year. That total comprised of an estimated 267,100 MT of product, up 6.0 percent from a year earlier, and an estimated 87,600 MT of shrimp, up by 0.9 percent year-on-year.
Farmers of pangasius, one of the country’s key species, were struggling with material prices on the decline, incurring losses of up to VND 5,000 (USD 0.22, EUR 0.18) for every kilogram of pangasius sold, GSO said.
In Can Tho City in Mekong Delta, the situation was worse. Material prices were between VND 17,500 and VND 18,500 (USD 0.75 to USD 0.8, EUR 0.64 to EUR 0.68) per kilogram, bringing a loss of between VND 5,000 and VND 6,500 (USD 0.22 to USD 0.28, EUR 0.18 to EUR 0.24) per kilogram, Can Tho City Director Of Agriculture And Rural Development Department Nguyen Ngoc He told state media.
Vietnam produced an estimated 127,700 MT of pangasius in the month, up 6.3 percent year-on-year, with production mainly from Dong Thap, which producted 44,500 MT, 5.3 percent higher year-on-year; and An Giang, which produced 38,700 MT, up 10.1 percent year-on-year.
The output of whiteleg shrimp, however, fell 3.2 percent to an estimated 55,600 MT in July, with the declines seen in many major producing provinces including: Ca Mau, with 7,200 MT, down 4 percent year-on-year; Tra Vinh, with 6,800 MT, 39.7 percent lower year-on-year; and Kien Giang, with 2,900 MT, down 0.9 percent.
In the month, farmers reduced farming activities due to adverse weather conditions.
Production of giant tiger shrimp in July, meanwhile, surged 2.5 percent to estimated 34,100 MT in the month, with the year-on-year growth of 9.2 percent in Bac Lieu Province and 15.8 percent in Tra Vinh Province.
Vietnam’s wild-catch fisheries output went up 4.5 percent year-on-year to an estimated 340,500 MT in July, including 272,600 MT of fish and 10,200 MT of shrimp.
In the first seven months of 2020, Vietnam produced an estimated 4.52 million MT of seafood, up 5.6 percent from last year’s period. That total comprised of an estimated 2.32 million MT from farming, rising 6.3 percent year-on-year; and an estimated 2.20 million MT of wild-caught output, 4.9 percent higher year-on-year.
Photo by Toan Dao/SeafoodSource
