(vasep.com.vn) According to the General Directorate of Fisheries, as of 31st October 2014, brackish water shrimp was farmed in approximately 676 thousand hectares, up 3.6% year on year.
In particular, black tiger shrimp farming area was 583 thousand hectares and whiteleg shrimp made up 93 thousand hectares, up 46.4% year on year. About 569 thousand MT of shrimp was harvested, up 5.1% year on year. This number was consisted of 241 thousand MT of black tiger shrimp and 328 thousand MT of whiteleg shrimp.
It is expected that in the whole year of 2014, brackish water shrimp will be farmed in 685 thousand hectares, up 4.4% year on year. Production is estimated at 660 thousand MT (up 20.4% year on year), consisting of 400 thousand MT of whiteleg shrimp (up 45.3% year on year), and 260 thousand MT black tiger shrimp (the same level of 2013). Mekong Delta, accounting for 93% of the total farming area, contributes 84.4% of total national output.
There was a dramatic shift in shrimp farming structure, as farmers switched from farming black tiger shrimp to whiteleg shrimp. Intensive and semi-intensive farming methods are more applied.
Cumulative seafood export value in 9 months of 2014 is estimated at US$ 6.48 billion, 45.2% of which was shrimp exports. Vietnam earned US$ 2.93 billion from shrimp exports, representing 117.2% increase comparing to the same period of 2013.
Vietnam’s shrimp export value in 2014 is estimated at US$ 3.8 billion.