Raw material prices of Vannamei and Black Tiger shrimps are standing compare to last week. The material price movement will be at its high level as the new Covid19 cases in Southern provinces create a lot of difficulties on labor forces for the shirmp processors, as well as supply chain and transportations. Main size of Vannamei is 50-80 count, and Black Tiger is 20-40 count.

Since early November, the Southern Vietnam provinces have continuously had many new Covid19 infections and outbreaks. Most of the spread was from workers in Ho Chi Minh City returning from the beginning of October. Main raw materials sources such as: Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau have more positive cases than other provinces. Can Tho City also increase its Covid prevention level. Authorities in Mekong Delta provinces continue to speeding up vaccination process to help recover business and production chain.

In the previous months, shrimp processors need to perform Covid check on their workers in every 7 days to check 20% workforce, then increased to 3 days to check 20% workforce, and now 3 days to complete a check for all existing employees. The factory must add PCR test to replace quick test for safety reason. The higher the Covid testing frequency, the more the overhead costs.

After a deep decline for 2 consecutive months due to social distancing and Covid prevention, Vietnam’s seafood exports in October had positive signs, with a figure of 918 million USD, nearly equivalent to the same period in 2020 and increased by 47% compared to September 2021. This positive result is thanks to the easing of social distancing and reopening in localities from October 1 to restore production.

South Korea is Vietnam’s fifth largest shrimp import market, accounting for 9.5% of Vietnam’s total shrimp export value. Vietnam’s shrimp exports to this market, after declining in August due to social distancing to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic, showed signs of recovery in September and October.