Mollusk farming could become Vietnam’s third key aquaculture sector after shrimp and pangasius

Strong prospects in production and exports

The Directorate of Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development reports that in 2024, Vietnam’s mollusk farming area reached 57,000 hectares, yielding nearly 478,000 tons, an 8.4% increase compared to the previous year. The country has successfully developed artificial breeding techniques for several important mollusk species, including clams, oysters, abalones, blood cockles, scallops, pearl oysters, geoducks, dog conch, and green mussels.

There are currently 635 mollusk hatcheries and nurseries nationwide, with 146 (23%) certified by local authorities. In 2024, these facilities produced over 190 billion juvenile mollusks, predominantly clams and Pacific oysters. Other mollusk species are produced on a smaller scale with limited seed availability.

Mollusk processing in Vietnam has diversified significantly, with products like IQF frozen clam meat, single-shell boiled clams, whole clams, frozen scallop adductors, frozen cockle meat, and canned clams. These products are popular in the domestic market and are widely available in major supermarkets.

In terms of exports, Vietnam’s bivalve mollusks are present in many international markets. According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), mollusk export revenues reached USD 144 million in 2022, USD 127 million in 2023, and USD 195.3 million in the first 11 months of 2024.

Between 2019 and 2024, mollusk exports from Vietnam experienced significant fluctuations. Clams remain the leading export product, accounting for 50-70% of total exports, though their share has been declining. Snail exports have seen a sharp rise, contributing 8-23% of total exports with notable growth in 2024. Scallops have shown similar growth, accounting for 9-15% of exports. Although oysters make up only 3-11% of exports, they have also experienced steady growth in recent years. Other mollusks such as mussels, abalones, and cockles represent a smaller share of the export market.

Three market requirements for sustainable growth

Nguyen Van Huu, Deputy Head of the Aquaculture Department at the Directorate of Fisheries, noted that the mollusk farming sector has significant opportunities, including access to expanding international markets, the benefits of free trade agreements (FTAs), and growing demand for environmentally friendly, low-emission products. However, the sector also faces challenges such as marine zoning issues, the effects of climate change, international competition, trade barriers, and the risk of disease outbreaks.

Nguyen Ho Nguyen, General Director of Lenger Vietnam Seafood Co., one of the country’s top clam exporters, highlighted several pressing challenges facing the mollusk farming sector. These include climate change, water pollution, habitat degradation, disease outbreaks, intense market competition, poor seed quality, fragile supply chains, weak management, and the lack of comprehensive zoning plans for mollusk farming.

To ensure sustainable growth, Nguyen emphasized the need to clearly define suitable farming zones, avoid overlapping areas, and maintain environmental quality. Tight licensing controls for farms and businesses are essential to manage production scale and ensure regulatory compliance.

Investing in research to develop high-yield, disease-resistant clam varieties that can adapt to various environmental conditions is crucial. Expanding disease-free hatchery systems and ensuring the quality of seed stock will also strengthen the industry.

Additionally, building strong brand identities for Vietnam’s mollusk products, especially clams will help gain consumer trust. Exploring and expanding into new markets, particularly demanding ones like Europe, the U.S., and Japan, will be key. Diversifying product offerings to meet varying market demands and providing financial support, training, and insurance for farmers are also critical steps.

Nguyen concluded that while Vietnam has significant potential to develop its clam and bivalve mollusk sectors, success hinges on meeting three critical market demands: high product quality, competitive pricing, and adherence to food safety and environmental sustainability standards.

VFM