Developing the shrimp industry, aiming for an export target of 4.3 billion USD

Reporting at the Conference, a representative of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) said that despite facing many challenges, in 2024, Vietnam's shrimp exports will reach 107 markets, an increase of 5 markets compared to 2023. The top 5 main markets include: China and Hong Kong (China), the US, Japan, the EU and South Korea. This group accounts for 76% of Vietnam's total shrimp export turnover.

Entering 2025, shrimp continued to be the item with the strongest growth in January 2025, with an export value of 273.349 million USD, accounting for 35.3% of total seafood export turnover.

According to the Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), in 2024, the country will have over 749,000 hectares of brackish water shrimp, with an output of 1.29 million tons (an increase of over 15% over the same period in 2023); of which white-leg shrimp output will reach over 951,000 tons, with an export turnover of 3.95 billion USD (an increase of 14% over the same period in 2023). In 2025, the Department of Fisheries sets a target of 750,000 hectares of shrimp farming area, with an output of all kinds of shrimp from 1.3 to 1.4 million tons (of which white-leg shrimp is over 1 million tons), and an export turnover of 4 to 4.3 billion USD.

Mr. Tran Dinh Luan - Director of the Department of Fisheries affirmed that in 2025, the shrimp industry may continue to face many difficulties and challenges due to the world economy recovering more slowly than expected due to conflicts in many places around the world; prices of materials and gasoline continue to increase; global shrimp output continues to increase and reach about 6.1 million tons (in 2023 it will reach 5.7 million tons); competition between shrimp producing countries (Ecuador, India and China) continues;….

In addition to the difficulties, Mr. Tran Dinh Luan commented that in 2025, there were more positive signs such as the recovery of some major markets (US, Japan, EU) when Vietnam's shrimp export sales increased; especially changes in US tax policies for some countries such as Ecuador and China could be export opportunities for Vietnam in the largest market of Vietnamese shrimp.

It is forecasted that the global brackish water shrimp supply may decrease in the first quarter of 2025 but continue to increase to 6.1 million tons in 2025, with increasing demand in the US market (14%) and the EU (11%) while Chinese shrimp production is slowing down, Indonesia is decreasing in 2023-2024 and may gradually recover, which is both a challenge and an opportunity for the Vietnamese shrimp industry in 2025.

To achieve the above goals, the Department of Fisheries recommends that localities allocate sufficient resources, finance, and human resources; prioritize irrigation infrastructure, electricity, and key traffic for key shrimp farming areas, creating favorable conditions for the development of the local shrimp industry. Effectively carry out environmental monitoring and warning work to promptly advise and warn farmers; guide disease prevention measures, effectively implement technical solutions for effective shrimp farming, and minimize damage to farmers.

Localities need to organize propaganda and dissemination for aquatic breed production and trading establishments to fully implement the provisions of the Fisheries Law and documents guiding the implementation of this Law; monitor weather developments and market demand to promptly advise and direct aquaculture production to achieve this year's planning goals.

Along with that, developing shrimp farming and stages in the shrimp production chain towards high technology; applying advanced techniques and science and technology, suitable and effective for each farming method, prioritizing water circulation technology, less water change, collecting and reusing waste in shrimp farming, meeting market requirements on environmental protection, animal protection and social responsibility.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien speaks at the conference

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien acknowledged and commended the efforts of localities in overcoming difficulties to achieve the production and export targets of brackish water shrimp in 2024. He emphasized the importance of linking in the production chain, improving the quality of shrimp seeds and investing in infrastructure to develop the shrimp industry sustainably.

According to Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien, 2024 is a difficult year for the domestic and foreign shrimp industry. Storm No. 3 caused huge losses in human lives and property in the northern provinces, especially in the aquaculture industry. However, with the determination of the entire political system, the agricultural sector achieved high results in 2024. The livestock industry grew by 6%, with meat output reaching 6.24 million tons, eggs 2.18 billion, and milk 1.2 million tons. In particular, seafood exports reached 9.6 million tons, reaching 10.7 billion USD, the highest ever. The shrimp industry alone has a production area of ​​740,000 hectares, with an output of nearly 1.24 million tons.

However, at present, the economic and technical indicators of the shrimp industry have not really made a breakthrough. Although the quality of shrimp seeds has been managed in over 80% of facilities, it is still a difficult problem. There are facilities where shrimp seeds are infected with diseases and are still sold.

Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien pointed out many limitations of the current shrimp farming industry.

Firstly, the current conditions for shrimp seed production in our country are not modern and do not meet the standards of other countries in the region and internationally. Therefore, the growth rate is still limited. Secondly, the survival rate is low. Thirdly, the feed consumption is high. Therefore, our country's competitiveness compared to countries such as India, Ecuador... is still limited.

Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien requested that localities need to calculate and have comprehensive solutions to develop the shrimp industry. In places where there is room, it is necessary to develop reasonable farming areas; proactively source raw materials; have measures to control the environment and diseases, strictly manage breeds, products must be safe from the pond to the dining table, and there needs to be a specific mechanism for the shrimp industry.

Source: https://www.mard.gov.vn/Pages/phat-trien-nganh-tom-huong-den-muc-tieu-xuat-khau-4-3-ty-usd.aspx