Raw shrimp prices have skyrocketed in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta after the Lunar New Year in late January.—VNA/VNS Photo Dinh Hue

Prices of raw shrimp have been increasing rapidly in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta since early February when shrimp processors returned to work soon after Tet (Lunar New Year), according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.

In major shrimp farming provinces such as Kien Giang, Ca Mau and Soc Trang, the price of thirty-pieces-per-kilo (ppk) size black tiger shrimp has risen by VND20,000 (90 US cents) per kilogramme to VND230,000-240,000.

The price of 40 ppk shrimp rose by VND10,000 to VND180,000-190,000.

White-legged shrimp prices have increased by similar levels to VND150,000-165,000 and VND140,000-150,000 for 50 and 60 ppk sizes.

The prices are expected to remain high or continue to rise until the peak harvest season three months from now.

Farmers are also preparing to begin a new brackish-water shrimp crop though activities have seen a downturn due to unpredictable weather, wide day-night temperature gaps and unseasonable rains that affect the water and cause possible shrimp disease outbreaks.

But despite all that the output of brackish-water shrimp is expected to be higher than last year.

Nearly 98 per cent of the country’s 448,000 hectares of brackish-water shrimp farms is in the delta. – VNS