With oil prices plummeting, fishermen in Nghe An province are taking advantage of the opportunity to refuel before heading out to sea.
The sharp drop in diesel fuel prices – the main fuel used in fisheries – by nearly 10,000 VND/liter has eased the financial burden on fishermen in Nghe An province, encouraging them to refuel and continue fishing at sea.
Take advantage of the opportunity to refuel.
According to adjustments made by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and the Ministry of Finance at the price adjustment meeting on the afternoon of April 9th, gasoline and diesel prices were significantly reduced across all categories. Specifically, RON95 gasoline decreased by nearly 3,000 VND/liter; E5 RON92 gasoline decreased by nearly 2,400 VND/liter. Notably, diesel fuel – the main fuel used in fisheries – saw a sharp decrease of nearly 10,000 VND/liter, the strongest price reduction in the past month, contributing to a more stable market.
Immediately after the adjustment came into effect, fishing boats in Nghe An rushed to dock to refuel, preparing for their voyages in the coming days.
Fisherman Phung Ba Thu, owner of two 830 HP fishing vessels numbered NA 93826 and NA 93836 in Cua Lo ward, said that this morning (April 10th), as soon as the fuel price dropped, his family took advantage of the opportunity to refuel both vessels with about 6,000 liters of fuel at a price of approximately 33,000 VND/liter, totaling nearly 200 million VND.
Given the nature of large-capacity vessels, each voyage consumes a significant amount of fuel, so the cooling of oil prices helps to somewhat reduce the cost pressure for long voyages.
"Although current prices are still higher than before, this reduction is very welcome. With fuel at a more reasonable cost, we feel more secure going out to sea, especially when seafood prices are high and sales are favorable," Thu shared.
Not far away, fisherman Phung Ba Dung from Yen Son hamlet also took advantage of the opportunity to refuel with over 5,000 liters of fuel right when the price was adjusted. According to him, the fluctuations in fuel prices over the past period have clearly impacted the production plans of fishermen.
“In February 2026, the price of oil was around 19,000 - 20,000 VND/liter, making it very convenient for fishermen. By early April 2026, it increased to 45,000 VND/liter, which was too expensive and required careful planning. Now, it has dropped sharply by nearly 10,000 VND/liter. Although still high, it is much more manageable and creates a positive atmosphere for fishermen to go out to sea,” Mr. Dung said.
According to the Cua Lo Ward Fisheries Association, the locality currently has 19 pairs of vessels, equivalent to 38 offshore fishing vessels, with a capacity of 800 to 1,500 horsepower. This is the main fishing force, supplying an abundant amount of seafood to the locality. The recent sharp drop in fuel prices has helped ship owners be more proactive in calculating costs and preparing for subsequent fishing trips.
Not only offshore fishing vessels, but also small-capacity boats operating near the shore are quickly taking advantage of the opportunity presented by falling fuel prices. Fisherman Le Hong Phi, from Chien Thang hamlet, Dien Chau commune, owner of a 60 HP boat, said that the drop in fuel prices, coinciding with increased demand for seafood, has given fishermen added motivation.
"Small boats like ours mostly make day trips, and each trip costs several million dong in fuel, which we have to pay for constantly. Now that prices have dropped, I'm taking advantage of the opportunity to refuel so I can continue going out to sea," Phi shared.
We hope for stable fuel prices.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, Deputy Director of the Nghe An Fishing Port Management Board, said that immediately after the sharp drop in fuel prices on the afternoon of April 9th, the atmosphere at the fishing ports became more bustling, with ships proactively refueling and preparing fishing gear for their voyages.
"According to observations, the fishermen are very enthusiastic about the significant reduction in fuel costs. This is an important factor that helps them plan their production, and be more confident in organizing fishing trips, especially long-distance ones," Mr. Trung said.
According to Mr. Trung, besides fuel prices, the seafood market is quite favorable at this time as the beach tourism season begins, leading to increased demand. This creates conditions for fishermen to improve fishing efficiency, increase income, and maintain stable production activities at sea.
Based on this reality, the fishermen hope that fuel prices will continue to be managed stably, with a reasonable downward trend in the near future, and that there will be more practical support policies to help them invest in production with peace of mind, maintain their pace of going out to sea, and stay at sea for the long term.
According to a report by the Nghe An Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province currently has 2,635 fishing vessels registered and updated in the national fisheries database. This fleet plays a crucial role not only in the development of the marine economy but also contributes to protecting national sovereignty at sea.
