The VietShrimp Aquaculture International Fair 2024, themed “In company with shrimp farmers†opened in the southernmost province of Ca Mau was held on March 20-22.
The event, co-hosted by the Vietnam Directorate of Fisheries, the Vietnam Fisheries Society (VINAFIS), the Vietnam Fisheries magazine, and Ca Mau province’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, featured about 200 booths of 150 domestic and international exhibitors.
The two-day fair also includedfour seminars about technology transfer to promote circular economy in the Vietnamese shrimp value chain, low-emission and sustainable shrimp industry through circular economy, quality improvement and value enhancement for Vietnam’s shrimp industry, and discussion on how shrimp farming to achieve the highest efficiency.
VINAFIS Chairman Nguyen Viet Thang said that for many years, shrimp has been a key product of Vietnam, bringing home nearly USD 4 billion from export each year, accounting for about 45 – 50% of the total aquatic export value.
Currently, Vietnam is one of the largest shrimp-producing countries in the world and is in the top four in the world in terms of exports together with Ecuador, India and Indonesia.
However, because of difficulties both inside and outside the country, Vietnam’s shrimp export turnover in 2023 declined to only USD3.45 billion, down 19.8% compared to 2022.
The industry is forecast to continue to face many challenges this year including abnormal weather conditions, high input material prices, high risk of diseases, high inflation in many countries and high logistics costs.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said that Vietnamese seafood products have entered nearly 170 countries and territories, and Vietnamese shrimp products are now sold in more than 100 markets.
Vietshrimp not only contributes to promoting and introducing the potential, strengths, image and brand of Vietnamese shrimp but was also an opportunity for authorities from central to the local level, experts, scientists, businesses, cooperatives and farmers to exchange and update the situation and new and advanced scientific and technical advances; connect businesses to co-operate in the development and market expansion; connect production and consumption along the value chain and at the same time, discuss measures to overcome limitations and shortcomings of the shrimp industry. Tien added,
“We believe that Vietshrimp 2024 will be a bridge between the business community, partners and customers; is a forum for the State, scientists, businesses and farmers to join hands to find solutions to develop the shrimp industry effectively and sustainably; maintain position in the world market, connect all sectors with the world; at the same time, learning experiences, advances and techniques of advanced countries to upgrade the Vietnamese shrimp industry in the future.â€
The country’s brackish water shrimp farming area reached 737,000 ha last year. Although basic farming areas have not increased, total shrimp production increased by 5.5% compared to 2022. Entering 2024, the shrimp industry will continue to face many difficulties and challenges. According to analysts, currently, domestic commercial shrimp prices have improved, however, the shrimp industry still faces many difficulties due to unusual weather conditions, high input material prices, and huge potential risk of disease.
At the same time, inflation in many countries has decreased but not significantly and logistics costs are still large, especially the tense situation in the Red Sea area, while the market signal is bright but not certain, farmers are still cautious in reproduction.
Camau province had about 278,000 ha of shrimp farming area last year, producing 231,000 tonnes, and earning over USD1 billion from shrimp export, accounting for 40% of the total shrimp farming area in Vietnam, 22% of the country’s output and nearly 30% of the country’s shrimp export value.
