February 14, 2012

Since the beginning of this year, companies in the Mekong Delta region have earned US$195 million from shipping 65,000 tonnes of pangasius fish, state media reported Sunday (Feb 12).

The region is expected to export 600,000 tonnes of the fish products by end 2012, unchanged from that of 2011, the Voice of Vietnam radio said.

The provinces Dong Thap, An Giang, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Hau Giang and Ben Tre, along with Can Tho city will expand their pangasius fish growing areas to 6,000 hectares.

Local growers are recommended by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to focus on increasing the fish quality to meet food safety requirements from importing countries.

Pangasius fish is one of stable commodities for Vietnam. In 2011, the country earned US$1.8 billion from exports of the fish, rising 26.5% on year and accounting for 29.5% of the nation's seafood export revenues.