Near the holiday, the hot weather makes fresh seafood prices soar

During peak days, Ms. Dung De's seafood warehouse (Dien Hai, Dien Chau) supplies the market with 10 tons of clams, mussels, cockles... of all kinds. Photo: Thanh Phuc

The hot weather and peak beach tourism season have led to an increase in demand for seafood. As a result, prices of these items have also increased sharply. According to a survey, for nearly a week now, seafood prices have increased by 50-70% compared to the previous week, with many items doubling in price compared to the same period last year.

Ms. Dung De, ownerSeafood warehouse in Dien Hai commune (Dien Chau)said: “Last year, the epidemic was complicated, tourism was closed, restaurants and hotels stopped operating, so seafood was cheaper and consumption was slower. From mid-April until now, the hot weather and the tourist season have increased sharply, so the demand for seafood has also fluctuated. Currently, the prices of all types of seafood have increased, in which, the prices of types considered "specialties" of Nghe An sea such as jumping squid, sea rum, and sea clams have doubled compared to before. Specifically, flashing squid costs 600,000 - 650,000 VND/kg, red crab costs 650,000 VND/kg (3-4 crabs/kg), sea rum costs 300,000 VND/kg, sea clams 60,000 VND/kg, blood cockles 35,000 VND/kg”.

The price of specialties unique to Nghe An such as sea rum has doubled compared to before. Currently, each kilogram of sea rum costs from 250,000 - 300,000 VND/kg. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Prices have increased, so fishermen in communes such as Dien Hung, Dien Ngoc, Dien Kim, Dien Hai (Dien Chau) and coastal communes of Quynh Luu are very excited and actively exploiting seafood. Mr. Cao Tuan Hai, a fisherman in Dien Hung, said: "Previously, the price of rum was only 120,000 - 130,000 VND/kg, but now it has increased to 200,000 VND/kg. Traders buy all the fish they catch on shore. There are lucky days when we dive from 9am to 2pm and earn millions of dong."

This shrimp crop, Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa, ownershrimp farmHoa Phat (Xuan Chau hamlet, Dien Kim commune, Dien Chau) won big when shrimp prices doubled compared to 2021.

During the peak tourist season, the shrimp farm of Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa (Dien Kim, Dien Chau) supplies the market with 15 - 20 tons of shrimp. The price of shrimp is double or triple that of last year, but most of it has been pre-ordered by traders. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoa said: “This year's tourist season, our facility has about 15 - 20 tons of shrimp to supply the market. Currently, traders have ordered almost all. The current shrimp price ranges from 180,000 - 250,000 VND/kg (depending on size), double or triple that of last year. With this price, shrimp farmers make a profit, making up for investment costs when input prices increase, previous shrimp crops are sluggish, and prices are low due to disease.”

To have retail goods at the markets, from 3am, small traders have gone to the fishing ports to "hunt" for goods, but prices are high and goods are scarce. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Currently, in Vinh city's traditional markets, all kinds offresh seafoodstarting to run out of goods. For more than a week now, many fresh seafood traders at Hung Dung market (Vinh city) have had almost no goods to sell.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Phuong (Nghi Tan Ward, Cua Lo Town) who sells seafood at Hung Dung Market said: “At 3am, we are already at the fishing ports to hunt for goods, but they are quite rare. Any fresh shrimp, squid, or crabs that we get are already ordered by restaurants at higher prices before the boats arrive, and we cannot compete with them at the market. Therefore, we only dare to sell small crabs and mantis shrimps. These types are reasonably priced, suitable for many people. In addition, we have to import seafood such as Ca Mau crab, Nha Trang lobster, Phu Quoc crab, Binh Thuan shrimp, etc.; and sell more frozen seafood to meet customers' needs.”

To meet the increasing demand of the people, restaurants and seafood stores, in addition to stockpiling goods, have also imported seafood from other regions. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Restaurants and seafood shops in Vinh also said that the price of crab, squid, and shrimp from Nghe An sea area is quite high, especially flash squid, mantis shrimp, and blue crab, the price has increased by one and a half times, and the supply is also quite scarce.

According to estimates, during the May 30-May 1 holiday this year, the number of visitors to Cua Lo and tourist destinations in Nghe An has increased, with many places already "running out" of rooms. Along with that, the demand for meetings, gatherings, and parties during this holiday has also increased. Therefore, the demand for seafood is expected to increase dramatically. Currently, restaurants have had to collect, store, and raise seafood in tanks to serve customers during the holiday.