Prices for whiteleg shrimp farmed in southern Vietnam have increased significantly recently, following years of low rates, according to Vietnam Industry and Trade Information Center (VITIC) on 14 December.
Primarily due to lower output, whiteleg shrimp prices have been surging in major producing provinces in Mekong Delta. In the Vinh Chau district of Soc Trang Province, the farmgate price was over VND 175,000 (USD 7.55, EUR 6.76) per kilogram per 30-count, up VND 40,000 (USD 1.73, EUR 1.55) per kilogram, or 29.6 percent, from a few months ago. With prices ranging from VND 144,000 to VND 146,000 (USD 6.21 to USD 6.29, EUR 5.56 to EUR 5.64) per kilogram per 40-count, farmers in the district now earn a profit of roughly VND 70,000 (USD 3.02, EUR 2.70) per kilogram, according to VITIC.
Prices were even higher in Ben Tre Province, where traders were willing to buy whiteleg shrimp of 20/30 count at prices ranging from VND 175,000 to VND 190,000 (USD 7.55 to USD 8.20, EUR 6.76 to EUR 7.34) per kilogram, up more than VND 50,000 (USD 2.15, EUR 1.93) per kilogram, or 25 percent to 35.7 percent higher than three months ago. The price of 100-count was slightly up to more than VND 100,000 (USD 4.31, EUR 3.86) per kilogram.
Shrimp processing companies have had to increase purchases of material to fulfill contracts signed previously for delivery by the year-end, thus pushing prices to go up amid tight supply, VITIC said.
Fimex (Sao Ta), a shrimp exporter from Mekong Delta, said last month material prices were high in November and have increased significantly since August due to lower supply.
Vietnam exported shrimp worth USD 2.8 billion (EUR 2.51 billion) in the first 10 months of this year, down 6.4 percent year-on-year, with whiteleg shrimp accounting for nearly 70 percent of the country’s total export value.
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