Vietnamese pangasius processors in the Mekong Delta are failing to meet exports orders due to a decline in production as farmers struggle to operate under high production costs and low prices.
According to Vietnam's Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the country' pagasius harvest is down compared to year ago levels. The Dong Thap province harvest totaled 53,000 tons in the first quarter down 6.5%; the Ben Tre province harvested only 18,500 tons, a decrease of 48.6%. Furthermore, respective volumes in Can Tho City and the province of Tien Giang were 12,100 and 6,700 tons, falling by 33.7% and 21.6% compared to last year.
Meanwhile, YTD US imports of Vietnamese pangasius are down about 20% year-over-year through February totaling 29.2 million lbs.