Vietnam's pangasius output fell in 2021, mainly due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
The country produced 1.48 million metric tons (MT) of pangasius in 2021, down 4.5 percent from 2020. That amount represents the second straight year of decreases: Production was 1.55 million MT in 2020 and 1.6 million MT in 2019.
Vietnam’s pangasius industry, VASEP said, had to deal with “unpredictable difficulties” in 2021 as a nationwide COVID-19 outbreak severely disrupted the industry’s production and export activities. Starting in the third quarter, pangasius producing provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta underwent strict and prolonged lockdowns to curb the spread of COVID-19, directly affecting the entire supply chain – from farming to processing and exports.
An increase in saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, rising feed and fuel prices, and skyrocketing transportation costs also affected pangasius-farming activity in the country.
Notably, the average export price of pangasius did not see any significant hike last year, VASEP said.
Vietnam's pangasius-farming area in 2021 - mostly located in the provinces of Dong Thap, An Giang, Ben Tre, Can Tho, Tien Giang, and Vinh Long - totaled 5,700 hectares, almost unchanged from 2020.
Dong Thap, where Vinh Hoan – the country’s largest pangasius exporter – is based, was the top-producing province, with a farming area of 2,085 hectares and an output of 457,000 MT of pangasius last year. Another top province for the year was An Giang, with a farming area of 1,235 hectares and pangasius production of more than 400,000 MT.
Vietnam exported pangasius worth USD 1.6 billion (EUR 1.4 billion) last year, 8.4 percent higher year-on-year. Prices of material pangasius stayed low through most of the year as a result of the numerous difficulties exporters faced. Prices then began to rise slightly starting in October 2021 as exports increased.
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