January 8, 2008

Vietnam's An Giang province to double seafood output with new plants

Mekong Delta An Giang province in Vietnam, the largest tra and basa catfish producer, expects to double its total seafood output this year through new processing plants.

There are at least five new seafood plants built this year, which will mostly process catfish. The plants combined capacity will reach 134,400 tonnes per annum, boosting the province¡¯s total production to 378,000 tonnes, according to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (Vasep).

Among the companies set to upgrade their processing plants is the An Giang Fisheries Import and Export Joint Stock Company (Agifish), which will enhance its frozen seafood factory No7 with capacity of 20,000 tonnes of products a year, with investment capital of VND100 billion (US$6.25 million).

Cuu Long Fish Joint Stock Company (CL-Fish Corp) also invested VND434 billion (US$27.13 million) for a seafood processing plant in Binh Long Industrial Park, Chau Phu District with 750 tonnes of raw material a day.

Another processing plant will be constructed in My Thoi, Long Xuyen City by Vinafish Import Export Corporation (Vinafish Corp.), with capacity of 10,000 tonnes a year.

Binh Long Co. Ltd. also announced to invest VND70 billion (US$4.37 million) for a plant with capacity of 10,800 tonnes of seafood a year, in Binh Long Industrial Park, Chau Phu District.

Sai Gon Seaproducts Import Export Joint Stock Company (Seaprodex Saigon) poured VND37 billion (US$2.31 million) to a plant also located in Binh Long Industrial Park, Chau Phu District with capacity of 3,600 tonnes of seafood every year.