Vietnam earned some $2.4 billion from tra fish exports in 2022, a 70 per cent increase year-on-year and surpassing the record of $2.26 billion posted in 2018.
The performance of the agriculture sector in the third quarter of 2022 saw some noteworthy points, such as rice production falling but livestock and aquaculture recovering quickly. Fisheries output in the quarter reached more than 2.4 million tons, up 2.8 per cent year-on-year.
According to the Directorate of Fisheries, the orientation in the fisheries industry is to reduce the catch and increase the output of marine aquaculture. To meet the target of seafood export turnover reaching $14-16 billion by 2030, it is necessary to introduce a major change in management along with preferential policies that are strong enough to support a large-scale aquaculture industry.
The “National Program for Aquaculture Development in the 2021-2030 period”, which has been signed and promulgated by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh, sets ambitious goals. By 2030, total aquaculture production is to reach 7 million tons a year, while annual export turnover will be $12 billion a year and annual growth in aquaculture value over 4.5 per cent.
Livestock production still faces many difficulties and ocean fishing has declined due to rising fuel prices. One bright spot in the agriculture sector is aquaculture, which has grown positively due to an increase in demand and rising export prices for key aquatic products. The exploitation of timber and forestry products has also been notable.
Aquaculture turnover grew an estimated 3 per cent in 2021, with export turnover hitting nearly $8.9 billion, up 5.7 per cent year-on-year and surpassing the annual target of $8.5 billion by 4.6 per cent. Despite the challenges to come, it is expected that the sector will post export turnover of $8.9 billion in 2022.
Though aquaculture exports were down 23 per cent year-on-year in September, the figure for the first nine months of 2021 rose 3 per cent to nearly $6.2 billion. Aquaculture businesses, however, still face problems regarding human resources, capital, and rising costs.
Fishing output in the third quarter was down 186,000 tons year-on-year, meaning significant efforts are needed to reach the 2021 target of output reaching 3,657 million tons and export turnover $3.6 billion.
