Bac Lieu, a southern coastal province, has suitable natural conditions and potentials to develop aquaculture. By late 2013, aquaculture area owned by the province reached 127,000 hectares, in which 16,000 hectares were used for fish farming under intensive and semi-intensive model. In 2014, the province targets to reach aquaculture area of 128,396 hectares and fish production of 171,700 MT, including 95,700 MT of shrimp and 76,000 MT of finfish and other aquatic species.
However, in recent years, local shrimp farmers have faced a lot of challenges such as low quality of shrimp seed, rocketing cost for veterinary drugs, unstable shrimp demand from importing markets. Besides, inadequate infrastructure (water irrigation and power) for shrimp production, lack of capital and advanced technologies for shrimp farming hamper farmers from fast developing their farming activities. Moreover, farmers do not sign supply contracts with processors to ensure that all their shrimp production will be bought by processors. Shrimp farming under extensive and renovated extensive model does not bring high productivity.
To gain the province’s target in 2014 and develop sustainable shrimp farming, farmers are required to strictly comply with the Decision 456/QĐ-BNN-NTTS of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development on producing seed and farming whiteleg shrimp. Thanks to short farming period and high productivity, farmers are expanding whiteleg shrimp. Thus, local authorities need to plan farming area of whiteleg shrimp as well as invest more in infrastructure for shrimp farming. Local leaders should direct farmers to rear shrimp under cooperatives or groups so that they can support each other in their production chain.
In addition, relevant authorities are encouraging local farmers to sign supply contract with processors. Accordingly, processors pay input costs for farming and ensure to buy all shrimp produced by farmers. Under the model, processors will hold initiative in raw shrimp supply for processing and build brand name for Bac Lieu’s shrimp. Linking with processors helps farmers save investment costs for their production. And competent authorities can control farmers’ farming activities and diseases on shrimp closely and comprehensively.
Furthermore, in coming time, provincial leaders need to strengthen controlling and periodically inspecting seed producing facilities, trading facilities of aquatic veterinary drugs to prevent low-quality products.
Equally important, farmers should comply with crop schedule and authorities’ directions as well as stock high-quality seed to develop shrimp farming sustainably.
Quarantine of over 928 million of post larvae
To ensure the quality of shrimp seed before being stocked, local authorities in the province quarantined 928.15 million of post larvae, including 281.99 million of post larvae produced in the province and 646.16 million ones bought from outside province. After inspecting, authorities granted 570 quarantine certificates for 334 batches of shrimp seed free with diseases.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn