Kien Giang – Mud crab prices hit year-high amid supply shortage
In early June 2025, the price of mud crabs in coastal districts of Kien Giang Province surged by VND 50,000 - 100,000 per kilogram compared to the same period last year. The spike has been driven by traders flocking directly to crab farms, pushing prices to their highest level since the beginning of the year.
In An Bien District, top-grade roe crabs are currently being purchased at VND 550,000 to 600,000 per kilogram. Medium-sized crabs are priced between VND 280,000 and 300,000 per kilogram, while male crabs (weighing four per kilogram) range from VND 180,000 to 200,000, depending on meat quality.
According to local farmers, erratic weather conditions this year, alternating heatwaves and unseasonal rains, have disrupted the farming environment. Water quality has been affected, leading to poor survival rates for juvenile crabs.
“At the start of the season, I stocked 6,000 juvenile crabs on my 1.5-hectare farm, but so far I’ve harvested just over 50 kilograms of market-size crabs, about 40% less than in 2024,” said Nguyen Van Hua, a farmer from Cai Nuoc Hamlet, Hung Yen Commune (An Bien District).
Tran Duy An, a crab trader in An Bien, noted a significant drop in commercial crab yields, particularly roe crabs, which have declined by 30 – 50% year-on-year due to poor farming outcomes.
Analysts warn that if the supply shortage continues, crab prices could climb even higher in the coming weeks.
VFM
