Many types of farmed fish have increased in price sharply.

Limited supply has caused prices of tilapia, snakehead fish, and mullet to increase by 20-30% compared to the same period last year.

Mr. Lam, a household specializing in raising red tilapia in An Giang , said that since the end of April, the price of commercial red tilapia has been continuously increasing. Accordingly, traders buy this type of fish at the pond at 40,000-48,000 VND per kilogram, an increase of 7,000-10,000 VND (about 33%) compared to the same period last year. "With this price, I make a profit of about 5,000 VND per kilogram after deducting costs," Mr. Lam said.

Similarly, the price of Nang Hai, Snakehead and Hu fish at breeding facilities also increased by 20%, to 38,000-70,000 VND per kg, respectively.

The high selling prices at farming households have caused retail fish to skyrocket. A survey at Ho Chi Minh City markets showed that the prices of farmed fish such as tilapia, cobia, snakehead, and mussel have all increased sharply in the past week.

At Ba Chieu Market (Binh Thanh), Xom Moi (Go Vap), Tan Dinh (District 1), the price of many types of farmed fish increased by 10,000-15,000 VND per kilogram compared to last month. Accordingly, red tilapia under one kilogram has a retail price of 80,000 VND, over one kilogram is 90,000 VND. Similarly, snakehead fish fluctuates at 90,000-100,000 VND per kilogram, and snakehead fish increased from 90,000 VND to 110,000 VND.

Fish prices are rising amid limited supply. Ms. Hoa, a trader at Xom Moi Market (Go Vap), said that two weeks ago, she could import 50 kg of red tilapia a day, including fish under and over 1 kg each, but now the amount imported has decreased by more than half.

To balance the supply, Ms. Lan, a trader at Binh Thanh market, has to increase sales of snakehead fish, mullet and some other types of sea fish.

Tilapia is being sold by traders at Xom Moi market for 80,000 VND per kilogram for fish under 1kg each. Photo: Hong Chau — Tilapia is being sold by traders at Xom Moi market for 80,000 VND per kilogram for fish under 1kg each. Photo: *Hong Chau*

Mr. Dat, a fish trader in the Western provinces, said that the hot weather is causing a decrease in fish output sold to the market. According to him, this is also the main reason for the high price of fish compared to the same period last year. In addition, weak purchasing power in recent times has caused many households to reduce their farming output. Some new farming households do not have the techniques, the fish grow slowly, so the harvested output has decreased by about 10-20% compared to last year.

"In the same period in 2022, I sold 2-3 tons to the market a day, now it has decreased to 1-2 tons, most of the fish weigh less than 1 kg," said Mr. Dat.

According to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of An Giang and Tien Giang, in the first four months of the year, farmers' fish output was lower than the same period last year. Many households raising snakehead fish and red tilapia have reduced their acreage, while some are planning to switch to raising grouper and cobia, which has reduced market supply and pushed prices up.

In Dak Lak , since the beginning of May, the prolonged heat has caused mass fish deaths in cages. In Krong Ana district, fish cage farmers said that the number of fish that have died in recent days is on average about 10 tons per day. Currently, local authorities and farmers are looking for solutions.

Hong Chau

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