Exports of aquatic products may exceed $4.8b in 2010

Since early 2010, price of various types of aquatic products have soared up due to difficulties and shortage in supply, according to the recent report on agricultural markets of Information and Statistics Centre (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development).

After the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, which led to a fishing ban for 40 percent of the total space, shrimp price in American market has gone up sharply by 40 percent, from $11 to nearly $14 per kilogramme. Price of oysters has also increased by 15 to 20 percent. Tra fish fillet has reached $156 a pound (CIF – cost insurance and freight), up by about 20 cents compared to April 2010. For Japanese market, shrimp price has also increased by 18 percent compared to early 2010. The peak time of the price hike was in June 2010, when shrimp price reached the highest level in 10 years and went up by 20 to 30 percent compared to the same period of 2009.

Under the impact of the global price increase of fishery products, domestic price for shrimp materials were also pushed up significantly. According to Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in June 2010, price of black tiger shrimp materials, at about 20 heads per kilogramme, was 180,000 dong per kilogramme; at 30 heads per kilogramme was 140,000 dong per kilogram, and at 40 heads per kilogramme was 118,000 dong per kilogramme. White-leg shrimp was sold at 54,000 dong per kilogramme for 100 heads per kilogramme. In some areas, it has reached 58,000 dong per kilogramme, up by nearly 50 percent compared to the same period of last year.

However, price for tra fish saw a reverse situation. The pressure on reducing import price for tra fish in EU market has caused domestic prices decrease to 15,500 dong per kilogramme, for tra fish materials.
At the same time, the rising feed costs have discouraged farmers to continue investing. Compared to last year, feed costs have risen by an average of about 40%; in some months they increased by four to five times.

Information and Statistics Centre said that 30 percent of pens for tra fish raising in Mekong Delta has been in a state of suspension.

However, since shrimps were exported at good prices, in the first five months of 2010, aquatic product exports of Vietnam still reached approximately $1.63 billion, up by 17.5 percent compared to the same period of last year. Of that, shrimp exports were $558 million in turnover, surpassing the turnover of tra fish exports, and took the leading position. Exports of tra fish only reached $536 million in turnover during the same period.

Analysing the global market situation and activities on breeding, growing and handling aquatic products of Vietnam, Information and Statistics Centre forecasts that in 2010, the national aquatic product exports would reach about $4.82 billion, up by 13.4 percent compared to 2009. Volume of the exports is estimated at over 1.35 million tonnes, of that tra fish would reach nearly 660,000 tonnes, equivalent to about $1.4 billion.

Tags: Vietnam aquatic products