Ca Mau posts growth in shrimp exports in H1 despite pandemic

Illustrative image (Photo: VNA)

Ca Mau (VNA) – Shrimp exports of the southernmost province of Ca Mau grew in the first half of this year despite the ravaging COVID-19 pandemic, according to the provincial Department of Industry and Trade.

The province’s shrimp output was estimated to exceed 107,000 tonnes in the period, a year-on-year increase of 9.5 percent while exports raked in about 400 million USD, up 16.6 percent.

This year, Ca Mau, one of the country’s leading localities in aquatic exports, is projected to earn more than 1 billion USD from shrimp shipments.

COVID-19 has been kept under control in the province as well as its traditional markets such as the US, Europe, China, Japan and the Republic of Korea. Therefore, the demand for the products in the restaurant industry of the markets has gradually recovered.

In addition, trade deals like the EU-Vietnam free trade agreement (EVFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) are hoped to create favourable chances for the country and Ca Mau in particular, to seek new markets.

The province is now home to over 40 export firms and 32 processing plants serving exports with a combined capacity of 250,000 tonnes per year. Its shrimp products have been shipped to 60 countries and territories.

Statistics of the Ca Mau Department of Industry and Trade showed that the province’s revenue from shrimp exports to signatories of the EVFTA surged 148.56 percent; and to those of the CPTPP rose 9.8 percent in H1 against the same period last year.

Amid the ravages of COVID-19, the province will bolster trade promotions via online platform with foreign distributors and businesses to search for new partners. It will also support local firms to offer their products in prestigious e-commerce marketplaces./.