Earning billions of dollars from exports, pangasius still faces great risks

In 9 months, pangasius exports earned 1.5 billion USD

According to data from the Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), the current price of grade 1 raw pangasius is commonly around 27,000-28,000 VND/kg, an increase of about 500-1,000 VND/kg compared to August 2024 and about 500 VND/kg higher than the same period in 2023. Pangasius fingerlings of 30 fish/kg cost 26,000 VND/kg, an increase of about 4,000 - 5,000 VND/kg compared to the same period in August, and about 5,000 VND/kg lower than the same period last year.

Earning billions of dollars from exports, the pangasius industry still faces the risk of unsustainability. Photo ST

Pangasius export turnover in the first 9 months of 2024 reached 1.5 billion USD, up 9% over the same period in 2023. Pangasius exports to major markets including China and Hong Kong (China) decreased by 2%, the US increased by 23%, the EU decreased by 1%, CPTPP increased by 13%, Brazil increased by 28%.

Currently, the country has 1,920 facilities producing and raising pangasius breeds, including 2 facilities producing and raising parent breeds; 76 facilities producing commercial breeds; and 1,842 facilities raising pangasius breeds (from fry to fingerlings).

In addition to the achieved results, Mr. Tran Cong Khoi - Head of the Department of Aquatic Breeds and Feed, Department of Fisheries - said that in 2023 and the first 9 months of 2024, the pangasius industry faced many difficulties such as increasing fuel, material and feed prices. The economic recession caused a decrease in consumer demand in many exporting countries, leading to a decrease in the selling price of raw pangasius, causing difficulties for breeding and commercial farming facilities.

In addition, prices of some goods and input materials for aquaculture development remain high, and high logistics costs put pressure on production activities, especially when consumption demand stagnates and production scale is reduced.

Meanwhile, according to a representative of Soc Trang province, establishments producing and trading in food, veterinary medicine, and aquatic products still depend on imported raw materials, so the selling price to farmers always fluctuates, increasing the cost of producing raw pangasius fish.

Need to start from the seed

It is forecasted that in the last months of 2024 and 2025, the pangasius industry may continue to face many difficulties and challenges such as geopolitical conflicts leading to continued high prices of materials and gasoline. Climate change is forecast to be more severe than in 2024 with high temperatures leading to drought and saltwater intrusion. This is the cause of unfavorable factors for production, breeding and commercial farming of pangasius, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks and causing difficulties in production. In addition, this industry still faces increasingly difficult technical barriers from import markets.

Pointing out 4 limitations that the pangasius industry is facing, Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - said that the average survival rate is very low in both the fry and fingerling stages, even when there is a good supply of parent fish, favorable reproduction and an abundant source of hatched fry; disease problems in the stage of raising from fry to fingerlings; quality decline during the process of transporting fingerlings from the hatchery's nursery pond to the farm's rearing pond; resources for pangasius breed development are still limited.

To best exploit opportunities, limit risks, overcome challenges, and strive to achieve the 2024 target and 2025 plan, many opinions suggest that it is necessary to continue maintaining high-quality pangasius breeds to serve the expected stocking area of ​​5,700 hectares, with an expected commercial pangasius output of over 1.7 million tons, and an expected export turnover of over 2 billion USD.

"In order for tra fish to meet export market standards, the first step requires a source of disease-free fish that meets quality standards," said Mr. Tran Dinh Luan, Director of the Department of Fisheries.

In 2024, with the target of export turnover reaching 2 billion USD, pangasius output reaching 1.75 million tons. To develop the pangasius industry in a sustainable direction, Mr. Phung Duc Tien said that it is necessary to invest in infrastructure in a systematic way for fish breeding and commercial farming areas.

In addition, it is necessary to effectively implement the Project on linking the production of high-quality 3-level pangasius breeds in the Mekong Delta, synchronously and effectively, meeting the demand for high-quality breeds, stabilizing supply and demand for breed production, with brands, traceability, and mobilizing economic sectors to participate in the chain.

Mr. Phung Duc Tien also suggested that localities need to strictly manage pangasius breeding facilities; strengthen disease prevention in pangasius breeding herds by increasing vaccination to reduce disease; and strengthen coordination between state management agencies and pangasius industry associations.

Source: https://congthuong.vn/thu-ve-hang-ty-usd-tu-xuat-khau-ca-tra-van-doi-dien-voi-nguy-co-lon-351817.html