Nghe An: Seafood prices increase sharply, many types double in price

Customs priceproduction increased sharply

The fresh seafood trading area in Quynh Phuong ward (Hoang Mai town) is a place where a variety of products are sold. With 4 households specializing in purchasing seafood from various places, then classifying and keeping them in tanks to serve customers.

Seafood selling area in Quynh Phuong ward (Hoang Mai town). Photo: Viet Hung

Mr. Nguyen Van Hung, traderseafoodQuynh Phuong ward said that at this time, the prices of seafood products have increased, especially crabs, which have increased higher than the peak price during the April 30 holiday. Some types have doubled compared to before. Every day, his family buys over 300 kg of seafood from coastal communes such as: snails, clams, mussels, groupers, stone crabs... to classify, raise and gradually sell to customers.

According to Mr. Hung, the difficulties in weather and fluctuations in oil prices have caused the prices of many domestic seafood products to increase beyond those of imported products such as crabs. The recent increase in oil prices has also causedfishermanLess people go out to sea to catch seafood, leading to a decrease in supply. At the same time, it is currently the flood season, making fishing more difficult, also pushing up the price of some types of seafood, especially crabs.

Clams, grouper, and snails... have increased in price. Some types have doubled in price from last year. Photo: Viet Hung

Recorded at the largest seafood selling point in Hoang Mai town, the price of crab increased from 350,000 - 400,000 VND to 580,000 - 600,000 VND/kg, an increase of about 50 - 65%; Octopus increased from 150,000 - 170,000 VND to 220,000 - 250,000 VND/kg, an increase of nearly 50%. The seafood with the highest increase was cuttlefish, from 200,000 - 220,000 VND/kg to 400,000 VND/kg, an increase of 90 - 100%; Snails increased from 300,000 - 350,000 VND/kg to 660,000 - 700,000 VND/kg; Tiger shrimp increased to 330,000 VND/kg from 180,000 - 200,000 VND/kg/30 shrimp, large tiger shrimp is about 550,000 - 600,000 VND/kg/15 - 20 shrimp,... corresponding to an increase of 100 - 200%.

A survey at the seafood market in Quynh Nghia commune (Quynh Luu) also recorded high prices. On average, sea crabs cost 540,000 - 570,000 VND/kg; mantis shrimp 300,000 - 400,000 VND/kg depending on the type; sea clams 200,000 VND/kg; grade 3 snails cost 200,000 VND/kg (a 50% increase in price compared to before).

Processing enterprises face difficulties

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa, a seafood trader in Tien Thuy commune (Quynh Luu), said that with the high price of gasoline, many ships do not dare to go to sea for fear of losing oil, so the supply of seafood is very limited. Her facility mainly buys seafood from familiar ships, and also collects from some new fishing boats that have goods near the shore. Last year, she bought about 15 tons of fish, squid, and shrimp of all kinds each month, but now she only meets about 50%.

Seafood processing facilities in Quynh Luu district are facing difficulties due to lack of raw materials. Photo: Viet Hung

Luc Sy Seafood Company Limited in Tien Thuy Commune (Quynh Luu) is a unit operating well in the field.seafood processingHowever, since the Covid-19 pandemic, especially due to the impact of high oil prices, the company has encountered many difficulties due to a lack of raw materials for processing. Mr. Luc - Director of Luc Sy Seafood Company Limited said: "In previous years at this time, the facility purchased thousands of tons of mackerel from local fishermen's boats each month, however, in recent months we have only purchased 100 - 200 tons at most. The company's revenue has decreased significantly."

Workers are also affected by irregular employment and unstable income. Photo: Viet Hung

Lack of raw materials for processing not only causes difficulties for the company but also causes workers to lose their source of income. A worker at Luc Sy Seafood Company Limited said: “A few years ago, the company had a lot of work, we had a relatively good income, enough to ensure our lives. However, this year, we only work a few days a month, the income is too low. In the first 6 months of the year, due to the few working days, our income was less than 2 million VND/month. We know it is difficult, but we still have to stick with it, because there is no other way.”