Rise in capture production in the early 2016

In which, capture production estimated to hit 476,000 MT, up 3.7% year on year and aquaculture output was 351,000 MT, rising 2.3% year on year.

Now is the time for Northern fishing season and off-shore fishermen in many provinces reaped good catch with many species of high economic value like tuna, mackerel, marlin, pilot fish. Thus, capture production in Feb 2016 estimated to touch 242,000 MT, up 1.9% year on year in which marine catch estimated to gain 229,000 MT, up 2.5% year on year.

Aquaculture output in Feb 2016 reached 160,000 MT, an increase of 2.8% year on year, bringing the total aquaculture output in the first two months of the year hit 351 thousand MT, rising 2.3% compared with the same period a year ago.

Pangasius production is encountering difficulties due to decreasing price of raw pangasius. Accordingly, pangasius yield in the first two months of 2016 in the Mekong Delta was about 114,216 MT, a decrease of 17% over the same period of last year. Some provinces reported reduction in pangasius output such as Dong Thap with 27,713 MT (down 43%), Ben Tre with 14,460 MT (down 17%), and An Giang 32,785 MT (down 13%).

In terms of shrimp farming, most of the shrimp farming areas in the Mekong Delta are in the renovation. Shrimp prices increased slightly because shrimp processors boosted purchasing raw materials to meet orders from the importers.

Thanks to rise in fisheries production, seafood exports in Feb 2016 estimated to gain US$466 million. The figure in Jan-Feb 2016 hit US$938 million, up 11.9% over the same period of 2015.

Compiled by Dieu Thuy