Vietnam’s production of shrimp and pangasius rose in October thanks to the lifting of COVID-19 lockdown measures across the country.
In October, the Southeast Asian nation produced 492,100 metric tons (MT) of farmed seafood, 0.9 higher percent year-on-year – including 123,400 MT of shrimp, up 0.1 percent from a year earlier. That total was split between 85,400 MT of vannamei and 33,700 MT of black tiger shrimp. In the first 10 months of 2021, Vietnam produced 823,200 MT of shrimp, up 3.7 percent year-on-year; including 547,300 MT of vannamei, up 4.5 percent; and 230,300 MT of black tiger shrimp, up 1.4 percent.
Vietnam’s pangasius output in October reached 145,500 MT, up 7.8 percent year-on-year, as the country’s processors boosted capacity to meet year-end holiday-season demand. The country produced 1.13 million MT of pangasius between January and October 2021, down 7.7 percent from the same period in 2020.
Pangasius prices rose in October by about VND 2,000 (USD 0.09, EUR 0.08) per kilogram to VND 24,000 (USD 1.00, EUR 0.90) per kilogram.
The price of shrimp also rose due to rising demand but limited availability due to previous stocking issues related to the COVID-19 outbreak. As of end-October the price of black tiger shrimp in the Mekong Delta’s Bac Lieu Province was VND 220,000 (USD 9.60, EUR 8.30) per kilogram for 20-count shrimp, up 4.8 percent compared to September; while the price for 30-count black tiger shrimp hit VND 195,000 (USD 8.60, EUR 7.40) per kilogram, 5.4 percent higher than September. Vannamei prices also rose with 60-count shrimp increasing 16.7 percent to VND 105,000 (USD 4.60, EUR 4.00) per kilogram, 70-count per kilo vannamei rising 11.8 percent to VND 95,000 (USD 4.20, EUR 3.60), and 100-count shrimp rising 20.8 percent in price to VND 87,000 (USD 3.80, EUR 3.30) per kilogram.
Shrimp producer Fimex (Sao Ta), one of the few Vietnamese shrimp companies that releases monthly production and sales updates, said on 1 November it produced 2,507 MT of processed shrimp in October, up 18 percent year-on-year. Its export value in the month was USD 23.9 million (EUR 20.6 million), 5 percent higher year-over-year.
However, Fimex said its production activities were once again being affected by a COVID-19 outbreak. The Mekong Delta, where Fimex is based, saw a rise in new infections recently after easing lockdowns allowed for increased travel. In Bac Lieu Province, the number of cases as of end-October quadrupled to more than 2,000. Local media also reported that new cases were found in several seafood processing factories in the region, including the Ut Xi in Soc Trang, the Tan Khoi and Chau Ba Thao in Bac Lieu, the Bien Dong in Can Tho City.
Photo courtesy of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers
