Mekong Delta: A bright spot in Vietnam's shrimp exports

The Mekong Delta's shrimp exports have grown impressively

Mr. Tran Van Trung, Director of Anh Khoa Seafood Company Limited (Ca Mau), said that the prolonged Covid-19 epidemic had affected shrimp exports, as some countries controlled imports more strictly. Congestion, delays at foreign import ports due to quarantine waiting, has led to increased costs for exporting companies.

However, thanks to the initiative and good adaptation, from the beginning of 2021 to now, his company's shrimp exports of all kinds have increased significantly over the same period. Forecasting for the whole year of 2021, the company's exports will increase 2-3 times compared to last year.

As one of the long-term businesses in the shrimp industry and also facing many waves due to the Covid-19 epidemic, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tuan, representative of Minh Cuong Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, confided: “Our company's shrimp exports in the first months of 2021 grew quite well. Currently, the company is trying to maintain production, exports and implements strict measures to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, with the determination not to let the disease spread into the factory"

According to the Department of Industry and Trade of Ca Mau province, by the end of May 2021, the province's shrimp exports are estimated at more than $423 million, reaching 40% of the year plan, up more than 16% over the same period. In Bac Lieu, the total value of shrimp exports in the first five months of the year was estimated at about $280 million, up more than 9% over the same period. In other provinces in the Mekong Delta, shrimp exports also grew positively compared to the same period last year.

Along with increased exports, many shrimp farmers in the Mekong Delta continue to expand production. Mr. Pham Van Quan, living in My Long Nam commune, Cau Ngang district (Tra Vinh) said: "A few months ago, the price of black tiger shrimp of 30 pc/kg reached 200,000 - 220,000 VND/kg, now it has decreased to about 170,000 VND/kg ; Vannamei shrimp size 30 pc/kg is currently about 130,000 - 140,000 VND/kg ... at these prices, farmers still ensure profits.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in May 2021, Vietnam's seafood exports reached about 790 million USD, up 24%; Cumulative seafood exports in the first 5 months of 2021 reached 3.27 billion USD, up 14% over the same period in 2020. Of which, shrimp exports reached 1.33 billion USD, up 14% over the same period. This is an impressive result at a time when many other agricultural products are struggling to find the direction of consumption.

Many potential markets for Vietnamese shrimp

In the first 5 months of 2021, Vietnam's seafood products are exported to over 120 markets; in which the US, Japan, EU, China, Korea, ASEAN, Australia... are the seafood export markets with the largest value.

Shrimp export has the advantage that import demand in the world is increasing strongly, especially in large markets. While the supply of shrimp from some countries such as India, Thailand and others was reduced due to the bad impact of the Covid-19 epidemic. Taking advantage of this, our country's enterprises accelerated shrimp exports in the first months of the year and obtained good results.

It is forecasted that in the coming time, the US will continue to be a market with good growth for Vietnam's shrimp products. Vietnamese enterprises also expect to increase shrimp exports to the EU, mainly vannamei shrimp. For the Korean market, there are also good signs of recovery, positive economic growth, so seafood trade with Korean enterprises will be more exciting in the coming time.

Other markets such as Australia, Canada, UK, Russia ... will continue to be new potential markets, because demand increases and there are no uncertainties or market barriers...