In the first 9 months, pangasius exports earned 1.5 billion USD
According to data from Department of Fisheries (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development), 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. Fingerlings pangasius 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.
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%, EU decreased by 1%, CPTPP increased by 13%, Brazil increased by 28%.
Currently, Vietnam has 1,920 facilities producing and raising pangasius breeds, including 2 facilities producing and raising parent breeds; 76 facilities producing commercial breeds; 1,842 facilities raising pangasius breeds (from fry to fingerlings). In addition to achieved results, Mr. Tran Cong Khoi - Head of Department of Aquatic Breeds and Feed, Department of Fisheries - said that in 2023 and the first 9 months of 2024, pangasius industry faced many difficulties such as increasing fuel prices, material prices and feed. Economic recession has caused a decline in consumer demand in many exporting countries, leading to a decrease in 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, 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, production and trading facilities for feed, veterinary medicine and aquatic products still depend on imported input materials so selling price for farmers always fluctuates, increasing cost of producing raw pangasius.
Need to start from the breed
It is forecasted that in the last months of 2024 and 2025, 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 in 2024 with high temperatures leading to drought and saltwater intrusion. This is cause of unfavorable factors for production, nursery and commercial farming of pangasius, increasing risk of disease outbreaks and causing difficulties for production. In addition, this industry still has to face increasingly difficult technical barriers from import markets.
Pointing out 4 limitations that pangasius industry is facing, Mr. Phung Duc Tien - Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development - said that average survival rate is very low in both the nursery and fingerling stages, even when there is a good supply of parent fish, favorable reproduction and abundant hatching fish; disease problems in nursery stage; quality decline during transportation of fingerlings from nursery pond of hatchery to farm 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 expected release area of 5,700 hectares with an expected commercial pangasius output of over 1.7 million tonnes and an expected export turnover of over 2 billion USD.
"In order for pangasius to meet quality standards of export market, the first step requires a source of disease-free breeds that meet quality standards," said Mr. Tran Dinh Luan - Director of Department of Fisheries.
In 2024, with an export turnover target of 2 billion USD, pangasius output will reach 1.75 million tons. To develop pangasius industry in a sustainable direction, Mr. Phung Duc Tien said that it is necessary to invest systematically in infrastructure for fish breeding and commercial farming areas.
In addition, it is necessary to effectively implement the project on linking production of high-quality 3-level pangasius fingerlings in the Mekong Delta, synchronously and effectively to meet demand for high-quality fingerlings, stabilize supply and demand for fingerling production, have brands, traceability and mobilize economic sectors to participate in the chain.
Mr. Phung Duc Tien also suggested that localities need to strictly manage pangasius fingerling production facilities; strengthen disease prevention in pangasius fingerlings by increasing vaccination to reduce epidemics; strengthen coordination between state management agencies and pangasius industry associations.

Source: Vitic/ congthuong.vn