December 4, 2009
Shrimp shortage in Vietnam seen until March 2010
Seafood firms in Mekong Delta region in Vietnam will face shrimp shortage until the end of March 2010, says Le Van Quang, chairman of shrimp association under the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).
Quang said the shortage was due to mortalities of small-sized shrimp (50 shrimps/kilogramme) caused by unfavourable weather. Good prices early this year) which encouraged local farmers to sell and start second crop sooner than as usual has also resulted to supply glut.
Quang also forecast that the firms, who have been hit by shrimp shortage since early Oct 2009, are considering importing from Thailand and Indonesia.
Vietnam exported 170,000 tonnes of shrimp worth US$1.35 billion in the first ten months of 2009, up 7.4 percent in both volume and value against a year earlier.
