December 23, 2011

Vietnam needs 50% import materials for aquatic feed manufacture

Vietnam has to purchase from foreign sources half of the materials used in its aquatic feed production, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development's Directorate of Fisheries said.

Due to insufficient domestic supply, the country imports 25% of corn, 90% of soy and its product and 95% of vitamins and minerals from Argentine, Peru, Chile and China, the directorate said.

Vietnam has 130 plants producing aquatic feed with total output of 3.77 million tonnes, meeting 85% of the domestic demand.

The country imports small quantity of aquatic feed for raising of sea fish and cold-water fish.

In January-October, the directorate granted licenses for local firms to import 1,000 tonnes of combined and 107 tonnes of additive aquatic feed.