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Vietnam’s Shrimp Industry in 2025: Continuing to Face Many Challenges

This was the assessment of the Directorate of Fisheries at the 2025 National Conference on the Development of Brackish Water Shrimp Farming, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) in Bac Lieu on February 14, 2025. The conference was chaired by Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien and Vice Chairman of Bac Lieu Provincial People's Committee, Ngo Vu Thang.
Overview of the Conference (Source: Lao Dong Newspaper)
According to the report presented by the Directorate of Fisheries, 2024 was a challenging year for Vietnam’s shrimp industry. However, brackish water shrimp farming still exceeded its planned targets, with a total farming area of 749,800 hectares, a 1.7% increase from 2023. This includes 628,800 hectares of black tiger shrimp farming (+1.1%) and 121,000 hectares of whiteleg shrimp farming (+5.0%). Total shrimp production reached 1.29 million tons, marking a 15.3% increase compared to the previous year. Specifically, black tiger shrimp production was 338,800 tons, while whiteleg shrimp production reached 951,700 tons.
 
Intensive, semi-intensive, and high-tech shrimp farming methods accounted for 19.2% of the total farming area and 78.5% of total production. Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $3.9 billion, a 14% increase from the previous year.
Throughout 2024, Vietnam produced 33,404 whiteleg shrimp broodstock and 52,000 black tiger shrimp broodstock, meeting domestic demand and exporting 610 broodstock shrimp (90.1% of the 2023 level). In addition, Vietnam imported approximately 124,000 whiteleg shrimp broodstock, 692 black tiger shrimp broodstock, 16,540 whiteleg shrimp larvae, and 66,000 black tiger shrimp larvae to support seed production.
Vietnam currently has 1,943 shrimp hatchery and nursery facilities, producing about 159 billion postlarvae, which is 103.55% of the 2023 production level. Of this, 109.8 billion were whiteleg shrimp postlarvae, while 49.2 billion were black tiger shrimp postlarvae. The key shrimp seed-producing provinces—Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau—account for 90% of hatchery facilities and 60% of the country’s total seed production.
Shrimp Disease Situation in 2024
According to the Department of Animal Health, the total shrimp farming area affected by disease in 2024 was 21,726 hectares, a 5.7% reduction compared to the previous year. However, white spot disease remains a major concern, impacting 28.7% of shrimp farming areas. Whiteleg and black tiger shrimp in the 10–60-day growth stage were particularly vulnerable, with infection rates as high as 58% in whiteleg shrimp.
Additionally, EHP (Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei) microsporidian disease showed an increasing trend, with the percentage of positive samples rising by 1% compared to the previous year. Although the total number of tested samples decreased, the higher infection rate suggests that the disease is spreading more widely, affecting shrimp from 10 to 90 days post-stocking. Particularly concerning is the infection rate in shrimp postlarvae, which reached 3.9%. This highlights the urgent need for stricter disease prevention and control measures.
Achievements and Challenges in the National Shrimp Development Plan for 2025
By the end of 2024, most of the National Action Plan for Shrimp Industry Development targets for 2025 had been met, except for giant freshwater prawn production, which did not achieve the expected quality standards. The export revenue target of $8.4 billion for 2025 is also considered challenging to attain. Additionally, Vietnam still faces significant limitations in shrimp broodstock self-sufficiency, with current production only meeting commercial farming demand at 159 billion postlarvae.
2025: Another Challenging Year for Shrimp Farmers
For 2025, the Directorate of Fisheries has set a target to expand shrimp farming areas to 750,000 hectares, including 630,000 hectares for black tiger shrimp and 120,000 hectares for whiteleg shrimp. Total shrimp production is expected to reach 1.3–1.4 million tons, comprising 350,000 tons of black tiger shrimp and 1.05 million tons of whiteleg shrimp. To meet this production demand, approximately 140–150 billion postlarvae will be required.
However, 2025 is expected to bring further challenges to the shrimp industry. Key obstacles include:
Slow global economic recovery
Rising input costs
  
 
Climate change impacts (drought, saltwater intrusion, and disease outbreaks)
Intensified competition from major shrimp-producing countries like Ecuador, India, and China
Potential price drops in raw shrimp during certain periods (e.g., May and June)
To achieve growth and enhance shrimp value—particularly in the Mekong Delta—Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien emphasized the need to improve broodstock quality, which would help reduce farming costs and mitigate disease risks. Additionally, the industry must develop new policies to resolve technical challenges, including transitioning from traditional earthen ponds to environmentally friendly, low-emission farming systems and applying digital technology for better traceability.
“To reach the $10 billion export target and strengthen Vietnam’s competitive position in the global shrimp market, we must modernize infrastructure for shrimp farming and logistics. It is also crucial to restructure the production process, ensuring a well-coordinated approach from harvesting to processing and marketing. Only by addressing these challenges comprehensively can Vietnam’s shrimp industry achieve a breakthrough and thrive,” said Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien.
Source: nguoinuoitom.vn
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