Raw shrimp prices in Ca Mau hit rock bottom, farmers complain of difficulties

Mr. Nguyen Hoang Thong, Tan Thanh B Hamlet, Ta An Khuong Nam Commune, Dam Doi District said that he has been raising super-intensive shrimp for 9 years, but never before has the price of shrimp fallen as miserably as this year.

Mr. Thong lamented: “I raise 2 super-intensive shrimp ponds, with an area of about 6,000m2. I just finished harvesting the last crop, reaching 43 shrimp/kg but the selling price was only 98,000 VND/kg, earning 350 million VND, while the cost of raising 2 ponds for 65 days was about 330 million VND. If we include labor costs, it is considered a loss.”

Although it is the main season, few people dare to raise shrimp because the price of raw shrimp in Bac Lieu and Ca Mau has hit rock bottom. Photo: Nhat Ho

On the contrary, feed prices have been increasing continuously, making it more difficult for farmers. According to farmers' calculations, the average cost of feed for 1 ton of shrimp is from 1 to 1.3 tons of feed. The average feed price is 45,000 VND/kg, equivalent to a loss of about 50 million VND/ton of shrimp.

Mr. Huynh Chi Ai, Tan Thanh B hamlet, Ta Khuong Nam commune, also raises 2 super-intensive shrimp ponds covered with tarpaulins but the income is not much.

Mr. Ai said sadly: “Since the beginning of the year, shrimp prices have been so low. I have raised shrimp to the top of the head but the prices have been dropping continuously so I have not made any profit, I mainly rely on labor for profit. In addition, shrimp farming has not been favorable recently, the water environment is also polluted so I have to spend a lot of money on treatment.”

Super-intensive shrimp harvesting in Ca Mau, despite high productivity, prices hit rock bottom so farmers have no profit. Photo: Nhat Ho

Regarding shrimp purchasing enterprises, Mr. Phan Van Tam, Director of Administration - Human Resources, Minh Phu Ca Mau Seafood Corporation, said that shrimp prices are currently the lowest ever, while this year's export output is relatively good. Currently, the company purchases about 150 tons of raw shrimp per day. Current shrimp output is enough to meet demand.

Mr. Tam said that businesses cannot increase purchasing prices because when exporting, they will not be able to compete with India and Ecuador, two countries that currently have very low shrimp prices.

Mr. Phan Hoang Vu, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Ca Mau province, analyzed that the reason for the decrease in shrimp prices is due to the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict, inflation, decreased demand while supply has not decreased; logistics costs have increased very high, 2-3 times higher than before; some major export markets have limited consumption. This leads to very low export shrimp prices.

Seafood processing factories for export in Ca Mau said they sympathize with farmers but find it difficult to increase prices because Vietnamese shrimp faces competition in the US and European markets. Photo: Nhat Ho

It is forecasted that from now until the end of the year, shrimp prices will likely increase due to the year-end supply and demand situation of some major markets, and domestic demand will also increase in the last months of the year. Accordingly, the authorities recommend that people choose suitable farming models that save costs and reduce prices, such as improved extensive shrimp farming in 2-3 stages, developing shrimp-rice and shrimp-forest models.

According to the latest update of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development on the price of raw shrimp in Ca Mau province, for white-leg shrimp in canvas ponds: 25 shrimp/kg costs 128,000 VND; 30 shrimp/kg costs 123,000 VND; 40 shrimp/kg costs 103,000 VND; 50 shrimp/kg costs 97,000 VND; 100 shrimp/kg costs 86,000 VND. For black tiger shrimp, 20 shrimp/kg costs 210,000 VND; 30 shrimp/kg costs 155,000 VND; 40 shrimp/kg costs 125,000 VND.

Source: https://laodong.vn/kinh-doanh/gia-tom-nguyen-lieu-tai-ca-mau-cham-day-nguoi-nuoi-keu-kho-1374839.ldo