Chinese traders only buy small lobsters, fishermen in Khanh Hoa and Phu Yen are sitting on hot coals.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Binh (a lobster business owner in Cam Ranh, Khanh Hoa ) confirmed that for the past few months, Chinese traders have only purchased small (green) lobsters under 0.3kg, with larger sized lobsters still being purchased but consumption is very slow.

The leader of this business added that traders buy lobsters depending on the type. If the type is about 0.3kg or less, it is bought for about 800,000 - 850,000 VND/kg, and if the type is 0.3kg or more, it is bought for about 600,000 - 650,000 VND/kg.

The Chinese market currently only imports small green shrimp under 0.3kg/piece. Photo: Contributor

Mr. Binh said, this situation also existed before, but consumption was good so people could sell their products, but now the selling price is not good, fishermen keep a lot so the amount of shrimp people have is increasing, leading to difficulty in consumption.

In Khanh Hoa province, people raise lobsters mainly in Binh Ba island, Cam Binh commune, Cam Lap commune (Cam Ranh city) and Van Phong bay, Van Ninh district (Khanh Hoa). Previously, thanks to lobster farming, people's lives changed, many people had food and property.

However, recently, fishermen have encountered difficulties in raising lobsters. In 2023, lobster farming will face difficulties because the Chinese market has stopped importing this product due to amendments to the wildlife protection law, which prohibits the trade of wild lobsters. Recently, China has only purchased small lobsters, which adds to the difficulties for shrimp farmers.

Purchasing only small lobsters causes difficulties for fishermen in Phu Yen province. Photo: Contributor

Faced with this reality, the representative of the Economic Department of Van Ninh district recommends that fishermen in the area need to monitor market developments and choose suitable farming species for the locality, to avoid losses during the farming process.

Sharing the same situation, in recent days, green lobster farmers in Phu Yen province have been worried as lobster prices have dropped, the Chinese market only consumes small lobsters under 0.3kg/each, while large lobsters are forced to sell at a loss or stay in cages waiting for prices to increase.

Lobster used to be a high-value crop, but recently some people are worried about the output. Photo: Contributor

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Quoc, a lobster farmer in Xuan Thinh commune (Phu Yen), this time China has switched to buying small lobsters, but the price is much lower than before. If previously the lobsters were sold for 950,000 VND/kg, now they are only sold for more than 700,000 VND/kg. Green lobsters under 0.3 kg/each are sold for the highest price of 770,000 VND/kg, while larger lobsters are only 680,000 VND/kg.

Source: https://danviet.vn/thuong-nhan-trung-quoc-chi-thu-mua-tom-hum-nho-ngu-dan-khanh-hoa-phu-yen-nhu-ngoi-tren-dong-lua-20241016144430529.htm