Processing seafood for export is the key economic sector of Bac Lieu province.
After two years of being severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic, this economic sector is gradually returning to normal.
In 2023, with the increasing and expanding market demand, the seafood enterprises of Bac Lieu province are determined to achieve the export target of 1 billion USD.
Turn challenges into opportunities
In 2022, especially in the last months of the year, export seafood processing enterprises of Bac Lieu province face many difficulties.
In addition to the scarcity of raw shrimp for processing, businesses also have to compete fiercely on selling prices and product consumption markets.
Along with that, due to difficulties in accessing credit sources, many businesses only dare to complete previously signed orders, but cannot afford to sign new contracts.
[Tôm Việt bền bỉ giữ thị trường trong một năm đầy khó khăn, biến động]
This situation has a significant impact, making the seafood export activity of Bac Lieu province in 2022 only reach USD 853 million, equal to 92.74% of the plan.
In such a difficult situation, there are still optimistic signals. It is noteworthy that many businesses have overcome difficulties by reorganizing production, investing in technology, improving competitiveness, promoting linkages with farmers to build a closed production chain, and at the same time overcoming the strict technical barriers on food hygiene and safety.
Mr. Tran Van Dieu, General Director of Thai Minh Long Fisheries Limited Liability Company, ward 1, Gia Rai town, said that in 2022, businesses will face many difficulties with the disadvantages of the world situation. There are times when the source of export goods is interrupted, so revenue declines in some markets.
However, the company’s leaders have actively developed plans and strategies for shrimp exports.
As a result, the revenue in 2022 reached over VND 1,000 billion, an increase of over 35% compared to the same period in 2021.
The company has also built a sustainable production link with farmers through a clean shrimp farming model that meets ASC standards (International certification for responsibly raised seafood, minimizing negative impacts). environment, ecosystem, residential community and ensure good labor regulations).
Along with Thai Minh Long Company, many other seafood processing and export enterprises of Bac Lieu also succeeded by turning challenges into opportunities.
Shrimp processing for export. (Photo: VNA)Sharing successful experiences in 2022, Mr. Tran Van Minh, Director of Nha Trang Seafoods-F89 Joint Stock Company, Ho Phong ward, Gia Rai town, said that businesses must build reputation and diversify products. products in the direction of increasing added value, making the most of the advantages brought by free trade agreements.
Enterprises have actively researched to change models and diversify products to meet the needs of the market; at the same time boldly invest and put into operation new production facilities applying modern technology at all stages of production; automate the size classification, intensive processing, increase the added value of many exported seafood products.
Along with that, the company also promotes the linkage chain to build raw material areas to improve the efficiency of production and business activities.
Enterprises are responsible for investing capital without interest and consuming products at market prices for groups of cooperatives and cooperatives; In contrast, cooperative groups and cooperatives are responsible for providing products raw shrimp long term for the business.
This is the foundation for the stable development of the stages of farming, purchasing, processing and consuming aquatic products.
Thanks to the initiative in transforming and adapting well in difficult conditions, the Company’s production activities always maintain and create regular jobs for 400-500 employees, ensuring the profitable production plan. go out.
Expand production, improve value
In 2023, Bac Lieu province sets targets shrimp export 1 billion USD. To ensure the realization of this goal, the province has implemented many solutions from farming to processing and consuming.
For aquaculture, the province continues to reorganize production in aquaculture areas in the direction of concentration, production according to the value chain of sustainable development, associated with the construction of large fields.
Along with that is promoting the development of high-tech shrimp farming; creating conditions for businesses and households to expand their production scale towards farms and sustainable development.
High-tech shrimp farming model. (Photo: Chanh Da/VNA)The province also encourages and replicates the model of production and consumption linkages between businesses and farmers in the form of large-scale production cooperation.
For the processing sector, Bac Lieu province is giving priority to investment in developing the deep processing, fine processing, and processing of instant products to enhance added value for products, especially for products. from shrimp.
Looking at the seafood export opportunities in 2023, Mr. Phan Van Sau, Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Lieu province, said that compared with the years 2021-2022, seafood exports in 2023 have more advantages.
It is an abundant source of raw materials due to favorable weather, along with the super-intensive shrimp farming area, for large output, which continues to expand. On the other hand, along with many seafood processing factories invested to increase capacity, a number of new factories were built on a large scale, applying modern technology.
Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Bac Lieu province shared to build Bac Lieu To become the center of shrimp industry development of the country, the locality is actively supporting enterprises to invest in technological innovation to diversify processed products, especially in the segment of deep processing, with added value. High; provide timely information on market demand as well as technical barriers for businesses to know and be proactive in production.
The province also strengthens trade promotion; organize training courses to disseminate knowledge on international economic integration, especially the Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) to take advantage of opportunities to increase exports to new markets…
Bac Lieu currently has nearly 50 frozen seafood processing factories for export. If in previous years, most seafood processing enterprises for export only focused on exporting frozen shrimp and mainly raw exports with not high value, in 2023, many businesses have paid more attention to processing of high value-added products.
This is also considered as one of the solutions to increase the competitiveness of seafood exports with countries with a large shrimp farming industry.
At the same time, limit the wasteful use of raw materials and aim to change the growth model from width to depth, successfully realizing Bac Lieu province’s export target of 1 billion USD in 2023. .
Tuan Kiet (VNA/Vietnam+)
