Ca Mau, Can Tho and An Giang Play a Leading Role in Vietnam’s Shrimp Industry

Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a phase that requires accelerated production, effective disease control and improved farming efficiency to achieve its 2026 targets. Ca Mau, Can Tho and An Giang have been identified as the three localities accounting for approximately 87% of the country’s shrimp production and exports, playing an important role in Vietnam’s shrimp supply chain.

1. The shrimp industry targets 1.4 million tonnes in 2026

On October 15, 2026, in Bac Lieu Ward, the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, in cooperation with the Ca Mau Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment, held a workshop on solutions to ensure the implementation of the 2026 brackish-water shrimp production plan. Discussions focused on shrimp seed quality, farming environment management, disease prevention and control, and the application of technology in production.

According to information presented at the workshop, the area stocked with brackish-water shrimp nationwide reached approximately 741,300 hectares in the first nine months of 2026, equivalent to 98.8% of the annual plan. Harvested production exceeded 1.072 million tonnes, including approximately 791,400 tonnes of whiteleg shrimp and 281,500 tonnes of black tiger shrimp.

To achieve the full-year target of 1.4 million tonnes, the industry needs to harvest approximately another 327,200 tonnes in the fourth quarter. This is a critical period requiring local authorities and farming establishments to proactively review production plans, manage risks and improve operational efficiency.

2. Three localities make a major contribution to shrimp production and exports

Ca Mau, Can Tho and An Giang are key areas for the shrimp industry, accounting for approximately 87% of Vietnam’s shrimp production and exports. Their importance lies not only in their production scale but also in their capacity to supply raw material for processing and export.

In Ca Mau alone, total fisheries and aquaculture production in the first nine months of 2026 was estimated at 971,000 tonnes, up 6.7% year on year. Shrimp production reached approximately 454,000 tonnes, including 439,400 tonnes of farmed shrimp, an increase of 9.7%.

For 2026, the province has set a target of 1.335 million tonnes of fisheries and aquaculture production, including 624,000 tonnes of shrimp. To implement this plan, local authorities are assessing farming areas, harvest potential and risk levels in each production zone, while strengthening environmental monitoring, shrimp seed quality control and disease surveillance.

These results demonstrate the importance of maintaining stable production in key farming areas to secure raw material supplies and strengthen the competitiveness of Vietnam’s shrimp industry.

3. Disease control and shrimp seed quality are top priorities

Alongside the pressure to meet production targets, shrimp farmers continue to face challenges such as rising input costs, inconsistent shrimp seed quality, fluctuating weather conditions and disease outbreaks during farming.

 

According to figures shared at the workshop, as of October 8, 2026, white spot disease had affected nearly 420 hectares of brackish-water shrimp farms, acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) had affected nearly 158 hectares, and infection with the microsporidian parasite EHP had affected nearly 20 hectares.

In response, the fisheries sector emphasized the need to control pathogens from the hatchery stage, manage water quality and strengthen proactive disease prevention measures. The registration of aquaculture establishment identification codes, the standardization of technical procedures and the implementation of traceability systems also need to be accelerated to improve product quality and meet market requirements.

At the same time, stronger cooperation among farmers, cooperatives, input suppliers and processing facilities will help establish stable raw material supply areas, support product sales and increase value throughout the shrimp value chain.

4. Applying technology to improve shrimp farming efficiency

One notable direction discussed at the workshop was the increased application of technology in intensive and super-intensive farming systems. Solutions such as automation, environmental sensors and early warning systems can help farmers monitor pond conditions, detect changes and make timely decisions.

In Ca Mau, alongside stronger environmental monitoring and disease control, local authorities continue to encourage high-tech farming models while improving the effectiveness of production systems suited to local ecological conditions, such as integrated shrimp–mangrove farming, shrimp–rice farming and improved extensive farming.

In practice, the performance of a farming cycle depends not only on shrimp seed quality or stocking density but also on the ability to control water conditions, maintain dissolved oxygen levels, manage waste and operate equipment systems. Selecting technical solutions suited to the scale and conditions of each farm is therefore becoming increasingly important.

Appropriate use of technology can help farmers take a more proactive approach to management, reduce manual work and optimize operating costs. However, effectiveness should be assessed based on the actual conditions of each farming system, rather than applying the same solution to every farm.

5. Value chain integration and sustainable development are the long-term way forward

To maintain growth momentum, Vietnam’s shrimp industry needs a coordinated approach combining production expansion, disease control, technology adoption and standardized procedures. Cooperation among farming areas, suppliers, processing companies and end markets is essential to ensuring stable raw material supplies and meeting traceability requirements.

As major contributors to shrimp production and exports, Ca Mau, Can Tho and An Giang will continue to play an important role in achieving the 2026 production targets.

With rising input costs and increasingly demanding market requirements, the industry’s development must go beyond increasing output to focus on quality, efficient resource use and risk management. These are the foundations for strengthening the competitiveness of Vietnamese shrimp and supporting sustainable development over the long term.

Sources: Ca Mau Newspaper; information presented at the workshop jointly organized by the Department of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance and the Ca Mau Provincial Department of Agriculture and Environment on October 15, 2026.

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