The export volume of giant tiger prawns rose only 2.14 per cent in the third quarter, while white-leg shrimp exports were up nearly 80 per cent over the same period last year.— File Photo

HA NOI (Biz Hub)— For the first time ever, exports of white-leg shrimp have surpassed those of giant tiger prawns, said Truong Dinh Hoe, general secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP).

In 2010, white-leg shrimp accounted for 26 per cent of shrimp exports. Today, they account for 47 per cent.

The country's total export turnover of shrimp in the first nine months of the year exceed US$2 billion; white-leg shrimp posted export turnover of $952 million and giant tiger prawns accounted for the remainder, according to Hoe.

Other seafood products such as tra fish, tuna and molluscs saw a decline in export turnover.

The export volume of giant tiger prawns rose only 2.14 per cent in the third quarter, while white-leg shrimp exports were up nearly 80 per cent over the same period last year.

Early mortality syndrome (EMS) has caused large losses among shrimp farmers in Thailand, while white-leg shrimp farming has been increasing rapidly in Viet Nam.

The farming acreage of white-leg shrimp in 2013 was 12 times higher than in 2012, according to the Fisheries Department.

While the production area of giant tiger prawns was 5,581,441ha, in comparison with only 47,283ha for white-leg shrimp, total production of white-leg shrimp reached 106,497 tonnes –10 times that of the larger shellfish.

The total acreage of white-leg shrimp surged rapidly because farmers could harvest them for export after two and a half months, avoiding the risk of EMS.

Moreover, the productivity of white-leg shrimp was much higher than that of giant tiger prawns, said Nhu Van Can, an official from the Fisheries Department.

The volume of white-leg shrimp exported to Japan increased from 31.6 per cent to 42.7 per cent, while shrimp shipped to the US rose from 37 per cent to 66.3 per cent. Exports to the EU grew to 53 per cent from 45.7 per cent.

Hoe predicted that shrimp prices would continue to go up and export turnover would rise in the remaining months of the year, with average export turnover of $250 million per month and total shrimp exports reaching $2.5 billion to $2.6 billion. — VNS