Vietnam seafood industry calls for help on export drop

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (VASEP) expects 2009 exports will reach US$4.2 billion, US$300 million lower than last year as the global economic crisis takes its toll on local seafood shipments.

Seafood farms in the Mekong Delta have suffered heavy losses due to lower prices and higher production costs. According to departments of agriculture and rural development, losses are a result of losing important export markets, declining export prices and lack of seafood material sources.

Shrimp processing factories in the Delta have faced a severe shortage of materials. Ca Mau Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers expects the province's exports this year to drop by US$35 million to only US$630 million. Polluted shrimp feeding environments have reduced output resulting to declining full capacity operations.

The situation has resulted from an unsustainable rush to set up aquaculture farms and seafood processing factories in the Delta a few years ago. VASEP is pleading the government to help restructure the industry and ensure its stability to sustain the good run of its seafood exports.