GENERAL INFORMATION

Vietnam, with a coastline of over 3,260 kilometers (km) and more than 3,000 islands and islets scattered offshore, plus up to 2,860 rivers and estuaries, has been geographically endowed with ideal conditions for the thriving fishery sector which currently exists.

Great potential of fishery sector in Vietnam is embedded in water bodies of 1.700.000 ha in which 811.700 ha freshwater, 635.400 ha brackish waters and 125.700 ha coves and 300.000 - 400.000 ha wetland areas might be employed for aquaculture development.

The Mekong River Delta in the south and the Red River Delta in the north have been used for wild catch fishing as well as extensive fish farming.

Shrimp and pangasius mostly farmed in the Mekong River Delta, in which, shrimp farmes located in coastal provinces such as Tra Vinh, Bac Lieu, Soc Trang, Ca Mau, Kien Giang, Ben Tre..

Pangasius farming is developing in many provinces in Mekong River Delta such as Can Tho, Vinh Long, Tien Giang, An Giang, Dong Thap, Soc Trang, Hau Giang, Tra Vinh....

Production in the fishery sector grew at an average rate of 7.05% from 1991 to 2000, and 10% from 2001 to now. Vietnamese fisheries production increased steadily YoY. Aquaculture output tent to sharply rise while capture ouput tend to slow down. In 2023, aquaculture occupied 59%, fishing output occupied 41%. From 2018-2023, ratio of fishing output has decreased from 46% to 41% of total fishery production in Vietnam. In 2023, total aquaculture area was 5.408 million tons, up 3.5%; total fishing output was 3.861 million tons, equal to 2022.

Agro-forestry-fisheries products nearly double in Q1

Total export revenue from agro-forestry-fisheries products in the first three months of this year is estimated at 13.53 billion USD, up 21.8% over the same period last year; and this results in a trade surplus of 3.36 billion USD, a rise of 96.5%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

Agroforestryfisheries products nearly double in Q1

Total export revenue from agro-forestry-fisheries products in the first three months of this year is estimated at 13.53 billion USD, up 21.8% over the same period last year; and this results in a trade surplus of 3.36 billion USD, a rise of 96.5%, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD).

In March alone, the figure hit 4.85 billion USD, a year-on-year rise of 6%. Of the total, the contribution from major agricultural products was 2.75 billion USD, major forestry products 1.22 billion USD, aquatic products 653 million USD, and livestock 43.6 million USD.

In the first quarter of this year, upturn has been seen in the export value of all exports, including agricultural products (31.1%), forestry products (18.8%), aquatic products (1.9%), and coffee (44.4%).

There are four products recording export revenue of over 1 billion USD, namely wood (2.32 billion USD), fruits and vegetable (1.23 billion USD), rice (1.37 billion USD), and coffee (1.9 billion USD).

Meanwhile, many products enjoy a rise in export prices, including rice, coffee, rubber, and peppercorn.

Strong rise has been seen in the export revenue from major markets, including Asia with 16.6%, the US 27.2%, Europe 34.8%, Oceana 22.9%, and Africa 21.6%.

So far, China, the US, and Japan have still been the three leading markets of Vietnamese agro-forestry-fisheries products, with respective consumption of 20.2%, 19.9%, and 7% of Vietnam’s total export volume.

The MARD said that along with guiding farmers in applying suitable crop and livestock structure, it will focus on developing domestic and foreign markets for the agro-forestry-fisheries products, and creating favourable conditions for exporting activities.