Vietnam fingerling prices spike in Mekong Delta at Start of Flood Season
Fingerling prices in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta are surging as the flood season gets underway, with tight supply and higher production costs driving rates to multi-year highs.
Over the past several weeks, farmers across the Delta have stepped up purchases for pond, canal and field stocking. While this year’s floods are forecast to remain mild, limiting demand for floodplain aquaculture and keeping much land under a third rice crop, sales for pond and ditch stocking are keeping the market active.
Prices for major species have climbed sharply compared with last year. Snakeskin gourami fingerlings are selling at VND 160,000-180,000/kg (USD 6.30-7.10), up VND 10,000-60,000. Yellow catfish, climbing perch and carp are trading at VND 100,000-140,000/kg (USD 3.90-5.50). Other species including bighead carp, loach and red barb are priced at VND 70,000-90,000/kg (USD 2.80-3.55).
Larger species are also fetching higher rates. Pangasius krempfi and giant river loach fingerlings are going for VND 5,000-6,500 each (USD 0.20-0.25), while snakehead fingerlings are trading at VND 800-1,000 apiece (USD 0.03-0.04).
Nguyen Van Hau, who runs a hatchery in An Giang province, said fingerling prices have risen by VND 100-300 per piece year-on-year. “Feed, electricity and labor costs have all gone up, while broodstock availability has fallen, limiting fingerling supply,” he told local media.
Despite higher prices, traders note demand has held firm as farmers remain confident that market fish prices will stay strong through the end of 2025.
VFM
