April 15, 2011

 

High-priced shrimp boost Vietnamese shrimp farmers' revenue

 

 

High prices of shrimp products in Vietnam's Mekong Delta region have boosted the earnings of shrimp farmers.

 

Profit for one hectare growing black tiger prawn is VND500 million per crop while for white-leg shrimp it is VND300 million (US$14,337), and farmers harvest a maximum of four times a year.

 

According to the Tien Giang provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, in the first quarter of this year, both varieties were farmed in more than 300 hectares of ponds, 54% up from last year in the case of black tiger prawn and nearly doubled in the case of white-leg shrimp.

 

Farmers in Ca Mau Province's Dam Doi, Nam Can and Cai Nuoc districts also had good crops this year, harvesting six tonnes of shrimp per hectare on average.

 

The output price increase surpassed the input price increase, so farmers are still happy with their harvest. Last month, feed manufactures including CP, Viet Thang, Cargill, UP and others decided to increase prices by VND150 (US$0.0072) to VND300 (US$0.0143) per kilogramme.

 

Nguyen Quang Huu, a shrimp breeder in Tien Giang province's Tan Phu Dong district, said the price of a juvenile had increased by VND10-30 (US$0.0005-$0.0014) compared to the same period last year.

 

At the new rates, the cost of farming a kilogramme of black tiger prawn comes to around to VND105,000 (US$5.02) while they fetch around VND205,000 (US$9.80), or a profit of VND100,000 (US$4.78) per kilogramme.

 

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) reported that last year Vietnam exported 240,000 tonnes of shrimp worth more than US$2 billion, up 15% and 20% on-year, respectively.

 

Vietnam-produced shrimp is exported to 92 markets, most of which increased their purchases. Japan was the biggest buyer, accounting for 27.8%, followed by the US with 26.9% and the EU 16.2%.

 

China and South Korea were also promising markets, according to VASEP.