Market News: The challenges of the pangasius industry are predicted to last to 2022

According to Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in 2021, the Vietnamese pangasius market has positive growth signals in the US, European, and Chinese markets along with a number of other small potential markets such as Mexico, Brazil, Russia, Colombia, Thailand… Up to this point, VASEP forecasts that pangasius export turnover in 2021 is estimated at 1.54 billion USD, up 3% compared to 2020. Although pangasius export still maintains its target in 2021, with great fluctuations in 8 months due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pangasius industry has been heavily impacted and affected by fish farming. materials for the next crop.

Currently, the Directorate of Fisheries has joined with the provinces of the Mekong Delta with pangasius farming to review the entire farming area and calculate the output that can be supplied for processing and export in 2022. Mr. Nhu Van Can, Director of the Aquaculture Department of the Directorate of Fisheries, said that the area for raising pangasius in July, August, and September decreased by 30-55% over the same period in 2020 due to social distancing.

However, the farming area in the months of March, April, May, June and October in 2021 increased sharply compared to the same period in 2020. It is estimated that the breeding area arising in the whole year of 2021 will reach 5,000 hectares and increase 5.5% compared to 2020. In the first 11 months of 2021, the harvested pangasius output will reach 1.3 million tons, down to 4.9% over the same period in 2020. The estimated total harvest in 2021 will reach 1. 5 million tons.

With the decrease in output due to pangasius farmers reducing stocking during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, it is worrying for the pangasius industry to lack raw materials for processing and export next year.

According to Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the General Department of Fisheries, the country currently has 96 establishments producing pangasius seed; in which, 80 establishments are operating and 2,289 establishments rearing pangasius seed. Output is estimated at about 25 billion pangasius fry and 3.1 billion pangasius fingerlings, equal to 62% compared to 2020.

If the speed of farming and stocking is not accelerated, it is forecasted that the source of raw materials for processing and exporting in the first quarter of 2022 may be in short supply. To ensure the supply of raw materials for processing and export, by 2022, the pangasius industry is planning to reach over 5,200 hectares of the raised farming area; commercial pangasius production reached over 1.7 million tons.

The Directorate of Fisheries is stepping up with direction and guidance to organize the production of seed and input materials to serve the needs of stocking at the beginning of the year to ensure raw materials for processing for the whole year of 2022. The area for raising pangasius in December is estimated, reach 330 ha and need about 200 million seeds.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development had quickly completed many programs to support seed; to source better quality seed; at the same time, support the cost of electricity for the pangasius farming area so that hatcheries and farmers have more costs to maintain production and supply raw materials for next year – Ms. Nguyen Ngo Vi Tam, General Director of Vinh Hoan Corporation shared.

Source: VASEP