Despite lingering difficulties and challenges, Vietnam’s tra fish industry has set a target of achieving commercial output of 1.7 million tons in 2024 and recording export turnover of $2 billion.

Speaking at a recent conference reviewing performance in the industry in 2023 and discussing solutions in 2024, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Phung Duc Tien said the catfish farming area is expected to cover 5,700 ha next year.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s Directorate of Fisheries has forecast that tra fish output will increase by 2.8 per cent in 2024 over 2023.

It also predicts that global inflation is likely to be controlled and consumer demand will recover from the second quarter onwards. Although tra fish output in the first two quarters of 2024 will not be as high as expected, it will still be sufficient for processing and export demand if recovery is seen.

According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietnam’s tra fish exports reached $1.6 billion in the January-November period, down 27.9 per cent year-on-year. Export value for the year as a whole is expected to come in at $1.8 billion, or 75 per cent of the figure in 2022.

Deputy Minister Tien said the new and improved tra fish development project will provide sufficient solutions for the sustainability of the industry once it comes into being.