Mekong Delta: Cultured giant tiger shrimp prices increase sharply

Prices of cultured giant tiger shrimps increase sharply in provinces of Mekong Delta, up 15,000 – 20,000 dong/kg as compared to the previous month.

Particularly, 20 pcs/kg are sold at 260,000 dong; 30 pcs/kg at 180,000 dong and 40 pcs/kg at 130,000 dong. Prices of white leg shrimps are are rather up and down with 100 pcs/kg being sold at 96,000 – 100,000 dong, 80 pcs/kg at 108,000-110,000 dong and 40 pcs/kg at 140,000 dong.

According to Agro Processing and Market Development Authority, export value of Vietnam’s seafood industry in eleven months of 2018 reaches 8.1 billion USD, up 6.8% year-on-year with the value in November alone is 852 million USD.

Four major shrimp exporters of Vietnam are the US, Japan, China and Korea that account for 55% of total Vietnamese export value. Noticeable increase in sales has been recorded in Korea, accounting for 12% after Thailand 17.1% and England 14.5%.

Seafood imports in eleven months of 2018 reaches 1.58 billion USD, up 21.3% year-on-year while in November alone it is estimated to be 166 million USD. Pangasius and shrimps are key species. Price of material pangasius slightly decreases but remains at high level with type 1 (700-900 gram/pcs) being sold at 32,000 – 33,000 dong.

Price of giant tiger shrimps is slightly down while price of white leg shrimps is inching up. Particularly with giant tiger shrimp, 20 pcs/kg are sold at 210,000 dong, averagely 10,000 – 30,000 dong less than before while 30 pcs/kg are sold at 155,000 dong and 40 pcs/kg at 135,000. Meanwhile with white leg shrimps, 60-100 pcs/kg are sold 2,000 – 3,000 dong more than before.