Bac Lieu (VNA)🗹 – In 2025, the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu aims to earn 1.2 billion USD from exporting shrimp, one of the key export products that accounts for over 95% of its total export value.

Currently, Bac Lieu is home to 48 seafood processing factories equipped with modern technology, with a designed processing capacity of around 294,000 tonnes per year. The province’s aquatic exports reached 1.18 billion USD in 2024, with frozen shrimp accounting for over 1.13 billion USD, a year-on-year increase of 16%. Local processed shrimp products have penetrated demanding markets such as the US, Japan, the EU, China, the Republic of Korea, and many other global markets, said Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Pham Van Thieu. Aquaculture, particularly high-density shrimp farming, is considered a cornerstone of the local economy, and the province aims to build on this strength in the coming years, which requires more resources for this top priority industry. The provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development reported that last year, the aquaculture sector maintained over 150,000 hectares of farming area. Notably, the locality saw a sharp increase in the adoption of clean, organic, and high-tech farming models, with many businesses embracing these innovations. To date, Bac Lieu has six companies certified by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the provincial People’s Committee for practicing high-tech agriculture, while 23 businesses, cooperatives, and 316 households have received international certificates such as BAP, GlobalGAP, and ASC. Despite the achievements, the province is also facing many challenges to become a major shrimp farming hub of the country, including environmental problems, a poor supply - demand linkage, and rising input costs. Pham Van Muoi, Deputy Director of the Bac Lieu Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, noted in the face of challenges, the agricultural sector will focus on modern, clean, and sustainable development models that adapt to climate change. High-tech shrimp farming, modern management, value chain integration, and clean production are central to this development. Bac Lieu will continue to develop key aquaculture products, including shrimp, crab and mollusc, and expand super-intensive, intensive, and semi-intensive shrimp farming. It will also promote the application of scientific - technological advances and the compliance with international standards (VietGAP, GlobalGAP, ASC) in high-tech farming zones, and ensure that products meet export standards with full traceability and registered codes for farmers and farming areas. The province is committed to supporting businesses in building a tightly-knit value chain with farmers, ensuring that both farmers and businesses benefit harmoniously, he said. Moreover, Bac Lieu plans to develop a quality and disease-free shrimp hatchery industry to meet the growing demand both in and outside the province. This move is expected to help position Bac Lieu as a reputable shrimp hatchery centre in the Mekong Delta and nationwide, the official added./.