(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the report of the Directorate of Fisheries, in 2020, the total farming area of pangasius in the Mekong Delta is estimated at 5,700 hectares and the total harvested output reached 1.56 million tons, up 6.9% compared to last year. Dong Thap, An Giang, Can Tho, Ben Tre and Vinh Long are the 5 key provinces with the largest pangasius area and production in the country.
In the first half of 2020, the prolonged saline intrusion caused the production efficiency to decrease, but in the second half of 2020 the disease situation is under control, the recovery of import markets as well as the efforts of businesses and farmers, so pangasius output and export turnover have had positive changes.
In 2020, the production of seed pangasius in the Mekong Delta regions was stable. The whole Mekong Delta region has about 120 pangasius seed producers (which keep pangasius bloodstock), nearly 4,000 ha are hatching pangasius; produced about 2 billion pangasius breeds (equivalent to 2019); and replaced 60,000 breeding bloodstock, so the quality of pangasius seed has been gradually improved.
In 2020, the price of raw pangasius in the Mekong Delta fell to a low level because Covid-19 affected export activities. From 26,500 VND/kg (the highest level in 2019 in March 2019, the price of raw fish has dropped to 18,500 - 18,800 VND/kg (in June 2020) and continued to fall to 18,000 VND / kg. (in July 2020).
By October 2020, the market recovered, exports to some markets were more positive, the price of raw pangasius began to increase to 19,500 VND/kg and to 21,000 - 21,500 VND/kg (in December 2020). This level is equivalent to the same period in 2019 and has been stable so far.
The FOB export price of frozen pangasius pangasius in 2020 were lower than those in 2019. From March to August 2020, the average export price was approximately 2 USD/kg compared to the level of 2.38 - 2.75 USD/kg in the same period of previous year. However, in October 2020, the export price increased to 2.35 USD/kg, higher than the same period in 2019.
In 2021, if Covid-19 is well controlled in the world and the demand on the market recovers, then Vietnam's pangasius farming output will reach about 1.65 million tons, an increase of 8% compared to 2020.