Dong Thap – Shrimp prices rally at year-end, lifting farmer margins
Farmgate whiteleg shrimp prices in Vietnam’s Dong Thap province have surged at the close of the crop, delivering strong profits to growers after months of high costs and volatile markets.
Prices are currently about VND 130,000/kg (USD 5.30) for 40-count shrimp, VND 165,000/kg (USD 6.70) for 30-count, and up to VND 210,000/kg (USD 8.50) for 25-count. That’s up by VND 15,000-20,000/kg compared with earlier in the season. With average production costs at roughly VND 90,000/kg (USD 3.70), farmers are securing margins of around VND 50,000/kg (USD 2.05) on larger sizes.
Producers using intensive, high-tech systems are reaping the biggest gains. “Our 36-hectare high-tech farm keeps output stable, reduces disease risks and ensures steady returns,” said Ngo Minh Tuan, a farmer in Tan Phu Dong commune. He stressed that investment in technology and management is more effective than expanding acreage.
Processors attribute the price rally to tightening supply, with many ponds already harvested, while demand from both domestic and export markets remains firm. The rise of high-tech models is also delivering larger shrimp that fetch higher prices.
Still, high input costs, especially seed, feed and electricity, along with limited capital and inconsistent technical know-how are holding back many smallholders.
Dong Thap’s agriculture department said it is promoting eco-friendly, high-tech farming, strengthening disease surveillance, improving farm-to-market linkages and diversifying aquaculture species to mitigate risks. Since early 2025, the province has stocked more than 20,000 hectares of aquaculture, producing nearly 660,000 metric tons, including over 100 hectares of intensive whiteleg shrimp farms in coastal communes.
The rebound not only boosts farmer incomes but also highlights aquaculture’s growing role in agricultural restructuring and Dong Thap’s green growth agenda.
VFM
