Pangasius prices still low, farmers lose over 4,000 dong/kg
Prices of white meat pangasius (1kg/pc) ranged at 17,200 – 17,500 dong/kg, down 3,800-3,850 dong/kg and lower than the production cost up to 21,000-22,000 dong/kg, according to statistics by Vietnam’s Pangasius Society.
According to the Agency of Foreign Trade (under the Ministry of Industry and Trade), prices of pangasius material in An Giang stabilized at a low level. Prices of white meat pangasius 0.7-0.9 kg/pc ranged between 17,600 and 18,200 dong/kg, down 3,800 dong/kg as compared to the same period last year.
White meat pangasius, over 1kg/pc, was sold at 17,200-17,500 dong/kg, down 3,900-3,850 dong/kg. This price was around 4,000 dong/kg lower than production cost of 21,000-22,000 dong/kg, according to statistics by Vietnam’s Pangasius Society.
Pangasius sales faced difficulties with exports of pangasius reaching 67.3 thousand tons, valued at $122.4 million, down 16.2% in quantity and 28.7% in value compared to the same period last year.
In the first eight months of 2020, exports of pangasius reached 471.2 thousand tons, valued at $911.6 million, down 13.5% in quantity and 30% in value compared to the same period last year.
According to VASEP, in the first half of August, sales of pangasius in China – Hongkong reached $271 million, down 22.6% from last year. This is the largest destination of Vietnamese pangasius. In July, the export value to this market reached $42.36 million, down 35.5% compared to the same period last year.
This year, pangasius exports to China saw a decline at the first place due to stagnant business caused by COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, this country’s white meat fish products experienced a surplus due to decline in seafood exports. Thus, Vietnam’s sales of pangasius to this market is forecasted not to rise compared to last year.
VFM