During the conference, participants listened to various reports and presentations from units under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, industry associations, universities, research institutes, experts, and scientists. Additionally, representatives of local fisheries management agencies, businesses, and shrimp farmers involved in the shrimp value chain shared their perspectives. With a spirit of collaboration, constructive dialogue, and openness, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien encouraged participants to openly discuss difficulties and limitations while also putting forward bold and innovative solutions to ensure the sector's growth and development in 2025 and beyond.
Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien acknowledged that in 2024, the brackish water shrimp industry achieved significant breakthroughs, showing positive growth in farming area, output, and export revenue. The farming area expanded by 1.7%, production increased by 15.3%, and export turnover rose by 14%. These accomplishments resulted from the industry's collective efforts, including enterprises and shrimp farmers who overcame the challenges of 2023, when global demand declined, and raw material prices fell. Furthermore, these results demonstrated the transformation of the fisheries sector, reflecting the impact of restructuring efforts and the application of scientific and technological advancements. In addition, overcoming salinity intrusion, rapidly recovering after natural disasters, developing raw material areas linked to processing, and expanding export markets played crucial roles in ensuring sustainable growth.
Despite these achievements, the shrimp industry in Vietnam continues to face significant challenges in 2024. In many farming areas, infrastructure remains inadequate, as shrimp farming still shares irrigation systems with agricultural production, increasing the risk of disease transmission. The industry also heavily relies on imported broodstock, while production costs remain high. Additionally, shrimp farming remains vulnerable to disease outbreaks and environmental pollution caused by farming activities. Regarding the processing industry, while some enterprises have expanded in scale and certain Vietnamese shrimp products rank among the world's top exports, overall, the diversity of processed shrimp products remains limited. The proportion of value-added processed shrimp products needs to increase, requiring further research and development. Additionally, the shrimp industry must advance processing technologies to create high-value products, including non-food items derived from shrimp byproducts.
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Currently, export markets impose increasingly stringent requirements concerning product quality, food safety, environmental responsibility, and sustainable development. Trade barriers continue to tighten, and domestic protectionist policies in many importing countries pose serious challenges, intensifying competition among shrimp exporting nations. Besides internal challenges such as high production costs that weaken Vietnam's shrimp competitiveness on the international market, external factors have significantly impacted shrimp exports in 2024. Global economic downturns, inflation, and rising interest rates in key export markets such as the United States, the European Union, Japan, and South Korea have resulted in a sharp decline in consumer purchasing power. Consumers increasingly shift toward more affordable products, affecting demand for high value shrimp.
Although inflation began to ease in major economies by mid-2024, consumer demand for crustaceans, including shrimp, remained weak. Importers reduced purchases, sought to clear existing inventory, and minimized losses. As a result, shrimp prices increased toward the end of 2024, and global supply is expected to continue rising in 2025. The competitive landscape among shrimp-producing nations remains intense, with pricing pressures continuing to pose a challenge for Vietnamese shrimp in comparison to products from Ecuador and India.
Adapting flexibly – Unlocking resources – Accelerating breakthroughs
The year 2025 is expected to bring significant changes, presenting both challenges and opportunities. International dialogue and cooperation will remain major trends, global economic growth will continue, and multilateral mechanisms will undergo reforms to enhance global governance. These factors serve as crucial foundations for Vietnam's shrimp industry to seize opportunities, transform challenges into development momentum, and drive production forward amid recovering export markets. Changes in global supply chains and increasing domestic consumption further contribute to the industry's progress. The sector aims to "Adapt Flexibly – Unlock Resources – Accelerate Breakthroughs," confidently stepping into a new era—one that marks Vietnam's rising presence on the global stage.
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During the conference’s closing session, Deputy Minister Phung Duc Tien highly appreciated the well-focused presentations and discussions, which provided valuable insights for developing solutions for 2025 and beyond. To overcome difficulties, capitalize on opportunities, and ensure the effective and sustainable development of the brackish water shrimp sector while adapting to climate change and market fluctuations, relevant agencies and units must focus on key priorities. The Directorate of Fisheries must guide and support local authorities in implementing registration and issuing identification codes for shrimp farming establishments in accordance with Decree 37/2024/ND-CP. Effective management must be ensured concerning farming conditions, seed production facilities, feed quality, and environmental treatment products for aquaculture. Additionally, authorities must closely monitor production trends, raw material supply for processing, and market demands, in coordination with VASEP and relevant entities, to advise on production strategies.
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It is also necessary to strengthen environmental monitoring and early warning systems in key shrimp farming regions, ensuring food safety standards in seed production and commercial farming while collaborating with the Department of Animal health to prevent disease outbreaks. The industry must promote high-tech shrimp farming by expanding farming areas that integrate advanced technology while maintaining environmental sustainability. Traditional shrimp farming models such as rice-shrimp, mangrove-shrimp, and improved extensive farming should be preserved, with technical improvements enhancing productivity and output.
Additionally, authorities should encourage the development of value chains by fostering production linkages and certification-based farming to ensure safe, cost effective production and stable market access. The sector should prioritize green and digital transformation as well as circular economy models, emphasizing water recirculation, minimal water replacement, and waste collection and reuse. These measures align with global market requirements for environmental protection, animal welfare, and corporate social responsibility.
Looking ahead, local governments must enhance the management and oversight of shrimp farming conditions, seed quality, and aquafeed production, as well as environmental treatment products used in aquaculture. Regular inspections of seed circulation and quality must be conducted, with strict enforcement against non-compliant activities. Furthermore, information dissemination, technology transfer, and the promotion of innovative farming models such as multi-stage shrimp farming, bio-secure farming, closed-loop farming, and high-tech shrimp production should be expanded. Strategic support for businesses, cooperatives, and farmers in forming production linkages and accessing government and provincial policies is also essential. The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development remains committed to closely coordinating with localities, industry associations, and businesses to address challenges, maximize opportunities, and accelerate the growth of Vietnam’s shrimp sector toward long-term sustainability.
Ngọc Thúy (Hai Dang translated)