Mekong Delta shrimp prices fall; pangasius falls

Shrimp prices rose by VND15,000 (US$0.81) to VND20,000 (US$1.08) per kilogramme compared to a month earlier to VND90,000 to VND150,000/kg. Many local shrimp processing plants are running at only 50 to 60 percent full capacity due to shrimp shortage, VASEP said.

Meanwhile, pangasius are priced at VND14,500 to VND14,800/kg, lower than production cost, the VASEP said.

The association said the price fall of pangasius caused decreased exports to main markets Russia, Ukraine and EU bloc.

The VASEP said Vietnam exported only 400 tonnes of pangasius worth US$600,000 to Russia in the first ten months of 2009, down 95 percent from a year earlier.

Pangasius exports to EU also decreased 7 percent to only US$454 million in Jan-Oct, 2009.

US$1 = VND18,487.50 (Nov 27)