(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The purchase price of raw pangasius in the first 11 months of 2024 remained at 26,000-27,000 VND/kg. However, farmers faced challenges in earning profits due to rising costs of fish feed, fuel, and labor during the year.
Regarding broodstock, there are currently over 240,000 broodfish ready for spawning. Of these, 180,000 were selected from commercial fish stocks, and 60,000 are high-quality pangasius transferred by the Research Institute for Aquaculture II under the 2016-2020 breeding program (40,000 have spawned, and 20,000 are first-time spawners).
By the end of October 2024, fry production reached 25.95 billion, and fingerling production totaled 3.9 billion.
For commercial farming, the total farming area in 2024 is estimated at 5,370 hectares, equivalent to 95% of the 2023 figure). The new farming area added annually during 2020-2024 remained stable at 5,200-5,800 hectares, except for a significant reduction in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The harvest yield for 2024 is projected at 1.67 million tons, approximately 99% of the 2023 level.
Forecast and development strategies for the pangasius sector in 2025
Climate change and saltwater intrusion in the Mekong Delta, combined with shifts in the Mekong River’s water resources, will have significant impacts on pangasius farming. Feed costs, the highest proportion of farming expenses, are under pressure due to declining supplies of fishmeal and fish oil.
Meanwhile, countries like Indonesia, India, and China are expanding their production of pangasius and similar products, creating fierce competition, particularly in key markets such as the EU, the US, Japan, and the GCC.
The pangasius sector's 2025 targets include:
- Production volume: 1.65 million tons
- Export revenue: $2 billion
To achieve these goals, several key measures need to be implemented:
- Improving broodstock: Continue selective breeding to enhance quality, focusing on salinity tolerance and disease resistance.
- Feed innovation: Research alternatives to fishmeal and fish oil, such as plant-based materials, insects, microalgae, microbial protein, and seaweed.
- Recycling by-products: Increase recycling of processing by-products, excluding pangasius-derived products for feed.
- Technology application: Pilot Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) in broodstock farms to improve survival rates and biosecurity.
- Brand building: Enhance technology, enforce strict quality control, and secure certifications for food safety, environmental sustainability, and greenhouse gas emissions.