Prices of giant river prawns, farmed sea crabs fall sharply

In the district of U Minh Thuong (Upper U Minh), Kien Giang province, giant river prawn and farmed sea crab prices is falling day by day. Farmed sea crabs are partially exported to China, the rest is consumed in the domestic market. While Giant River prawns are domestically consumed only. Due to the Covid-19 outbreak, localities impose social distancing measures, leading to restaurant closures which narrow the market for these seafood products.

Although there are still traders purchasing, the prices are falling sharply. Specifically, on July 26, Giant River prawn (size 20-30 pieces per kilogram) were purchased at VND100,000-VND120,000 per kilogram. And, farmed sea crab prices were below VND100,000 per kilogram.

According to local shrimp farmers and traders, the consumptions of black tiger shrimps and white shrimps as well as sea crabs are temporarily stabilized in local markets and in some places of Ho Chi Minh City. Giant river prawn in particular, the market is closed down because this product is domestically consumed, while restaurants and bars have closed.

Giant river prawns can’t be harvested in small numbers to sell on the local markets. Each batch of harvest must be from 500kg to 1 ton. Therefore, giant river prawn prices drop drastically to VND90,000 –VND100,000 per kilogram compared to VND120,000 per kilogram previously. Especially, white shrimps (size 30 pieces per kilogram are now priced at VND130,000 unchanged compared to the price of last week.

According, Tran Phi Tien in Dong Hoa commune, Anh Minh district, meaty crabs in the morning of July 26 were only VND60,000 per kilogram, decreasing by 2/3 compared to the beginning of the year. Due to lower prices, many farmers have no choice but to keep farming and waiting for the opportunities.

Deputy head of the Office of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vinh Thuan district (Kien Giang province) Trinh Tai Mon said that the district currently has 940 tons of giant river prawns, 45 tons of black tiger shrimps, 114 tons of white shrimps and 15 tons of farmed sea crabs.

 “Currently, the streets are relatively clear. However, due to the implementation of social distancing measure, it is hard for worker to harvest. We try to arrange by giving Covid-19 quick tests or providing confirmations so that farmer can harvest shrimps and crabs”, Mon said

According to the report by the Department of Agriculture and Rural Department of Kien Giang province on the situation of agricultural production and the balance of the consumption of farm products in the province from now until the end of August 2021, local farmers will harvest about 4,000 tons of farmed sea crabs. While domestic demand is only 500 tons, the remaining 3,500 tons need to be connected to other localities in the region for consumption.

Similarly, giant river prawn production is estimated at 2,000 tons, local consumption is only around 500 tons, the remaining 1,500 tons need to find markets for consumption.

In Long An province, Deputy head of the Office of Agriculture and Rural Development of Can Giuoc district, Nguyen Thi Hong Chau informed: Currently many traders is facing difficulties in travelling so local seafood consumption is not good.

At this time, the district has 16 farming households with over 50 tons of black tiger shrimps and white shrimps which can be harvested but in recent days, no trader has come to buy. Many farmers felt impatient and worried. Over the past days, most of farmers harvested shrimps little by little and sold their harvest in small numbers to local market.

Nguyen Thanh Toan, a farmer in Bac hamlet,  Dong Thanh commune, Can Giuoc district (Long An) said “I used to sell my shrimps to oxygen system-installed truck owners to be sold in Ho Chi Minh City, I have never sold my shrimps to processing companies. Now, it’s difficult to sell shrimps to Ho Chi Minh City, we have to harvest a small quantity to sell locally. Companies don’t send their trucks here for purchasing because they fear that they will suffer a loss.”

Toan added he has harvested 50 kilograms of white shrimps and sell to traders at VND 110,000 per kilogram (size 48 pieces per kilo). Now, he has more than 2 tons of shrimps unsold. These days, most traders said that they have to travel long distances, going through many checkpoints which is costly. They are afraid of suffering loss so they don’t come to buy.

Cao Phu Khanh, Director of Long Thanh Seafood Cooperative in Long Thanh hamlet, Thu Thua district, Long An province said that the cooperative has 7 official members but has few hundred satellite members. It is able to supply dozens of tons of perches and broadhead catfish to the market.

Binh Dien wholesale market in Ho Chi Minh City is now closed and the cooperative is temporarily shut down too. Seeing the Covid-19 pandemic remains complicated, the cooperative’s drivers asked for a few days off from work.