Vietnam earns nearly $1.5 billion from pangasius exports.

Vietnam's pangasius exports in the past nine months reached $1.46 billion, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year.

Pangasius fish exports strong growth

Processed catfish Over the past nine months, there has been a strong increase of 42%, with frozen whole pangasius increasing by 24%. Most markets have recorded quite positive growth, such as the United States, Brazil, and Thailand.

Notably, Mexico continues to lead the CPTPP market bloc in the consumption of Vietnamese pangasius with $55 million, a 19% increase compared to the same period last year.

According to VASEP's forecast, pangasius exports in the fourth quarter will continue to be positive due to increased demand during the year-end holiday season.

Vietnam's pangasius exports in the past nine months reached US$1.46 billion, an 8% increase compared to the same period last year. (Illustrative image.)

Pangasius catfish breeders maintain production.

Despite positive signs, the pangasius industry still faces many challenges. These include uneven distribution of farming areas, inadequate infrastructure, rising input costs, and low selling prices. This leads to losses for both those raising fish for consumption and those raising fish fry.

While at the beginning of the year, catfish fingerlings (30 fish/kg) sold for around 42,000 VND, now pond owners can only sell them for 27,000 VND. What is worrying is that while the price of adult catfish is showing signs of recovery, the price of fingerlings continues to fall, defying any predictable pattern.

In recent days, the price of farmed pangasius in the Mekong Delta has been purchased by traders at 27,000 - 28,000 VND/kg, the same as the price of fingerlings. This is considered paradoxical, because fingerling production faces many difficulties, with high mortality rates, in some places reaching up to 50%. The situation is further complicated by the increasing feed conversion ratio, driving up the cost of 1kg of fingerlings to 32,000, or even 35,000 VND/kg.

In areas specializing in fish breeding such as Thap Muoi and Hong Nguy in Dong Thap province, or in areas specializing in raising fish for consumption such as O Mon and Thot Not in Can Tho city, or An Giang and Tien Giang provinces, the number of households still clinging to this profession has dwindled significantly.

Most have switched to cultivating other crops or raising other animals, or left their ponds empty, waiting for the market to recover. This is because, in this industry, the longer you pursue it during difficult times, the more debt you will accumulate.

Solutions for developing catfish breeding

In the current context, improving the quality of pangasius catfish breeds is an essential requirement. This was also the main topic of the "Conference on solutions for developing pangasius catfish breeds to cope with climate change and international trade barriers," recently organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Dong Thap province.

According to data released at the conference, there are currently 1,920 catfish breeding and rearing facilities nationwide, but only 2 have been certified by the Fisheries Department. In 2024, a significant number of facilities ceased operations, accounting for approximately one-fifth of the total. Of particular concern is that none of the facilities have registered, implemented, or been granted disease safety certificates. Only 18 facilities have declared conformity as required by regulations.

Mr. Duong Nghia Quoc, Chairman of the Vietnam Pangasius Association, stated: "Currently, the need for fingerlings is very urgent. The quality of fingerlings is currently facing many problems. The survival rate of fry to fingerlings is very low, only reaching about 6 to 7%. We must improve the quality."

In the current context, improving the quality of pangasius catfish breeding stock is an essential requirement. (Illustrative image.)

"Studies have shown that applying science and technology can increase the survival rate by 20% throughout the entire process of raising fish fry into fingerlings. After this conference, we will transfer technology to help the pangasius industry increase survival rates during the rearing process and improve traceability," said Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Fisheries Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development .

Besides applying technology to increase survival rates in the breeding process, delegates also argued that good quality broodstock is the decisive factor in producing perfect, disease-free pangasius fish from the farm to export. To achieve this, the agricultural sector first proposed that localities strictly manage pangasius breeding facilities.

Mr. Phung Duc Tien, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, emphasized: "The breed determines the productivity and quality of agricultural products in general and pangasius in particular. This is an issue that the Ministry has assigned to relevant units. Management must be tightened. Only facilities that meet the requirements will be granted licenses."

According to leaders of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, it is necessary to invest in infrastructure systematically for fish breeding and commercial farming areas. In addition, the three-tiered catfish farming project in the Mekong Delta must be implemented synchronously and effectively to meet the demand for high-quality fingerlings and ensure a stable supply and demand for breeding stock.

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/viet-nam-thu-ve-gan-1-5-ty-usd-tu-xuat-khau-ca-tra-3324021.html