Vietnam's crab exports earned $231 million, with US purchases increasing by 250%.
According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, in the first eight months of the year, Vietnam's crab export turnover reached 231 million USD, an increase of 27% compared to the same period in 2015.
Notably, in August alone, crab exports reached $41 million, a 53% increase compared to the same period last year, and the highest level since the beginning of the year. This result shows that consumption in international markets remains positive, creating more opportunities for businesses to exploit the domestic supply of sea crabs.
Crab exports increased sharply in the first eight months of the year (Photo: Nam Binh).
In terms of markets, China continues to play a leading role, bringing in $146 million, a 37% increase and accounting for nearly 63% of Vietnam's total crab export value.
Meanwhile, the US is emerging with remarkable growth. Crab exports to this market reached $24 million in the first eight months, a 250% increase compared to the same period last year, making the US the third largest market, accounting for approximately 10% of total exports.
Conversely, exports to Japan decreased by 15%, to $53 million. Nevertheless, Japan remains the second largest market for Vietnamese crab, accounting for nearly 23% of the total.
In addition to key markets, crab exports to Singapore increased by 89%, Taiwan (China) by 62%, and Canada by 57%. Hong Kong (China) also recorded a 72% increase.
The growth in crab exports opens up opportunities to increase revenue for businesses and farmers, especially for Ca Mau crab products - which have already been protected by geographical indication.
Cà Mau crabs are priced at over 1 million VND/kg, but the issue of finding buyers remains.
In Ca Mau, sea crabs have long been considered a famous delicacy thanks to their firm, sweet meat and high market demand. Depending on the type and time of year, the price traders pay for crabs at the farms can range from a few hundred thousand dong to nearly one million dong per kilogram.
Ca Mau currently has over 365,000 hectares dedicated to sea crab farming, producing over 36,000 tons annually and providing livelihoods for more than 45,000 households. This is also one of the province's key aquatic products.
Ca Mau crab has been granted geographical indication protection since 2022 (Photo: Cooperative).
Ca Mau crab has also been granted geographical indication protection since 2022, creating a basis for the locality to develop a brand associated with the origin and characteristics of the product. However, having a geographical indication does not mean that the entire potential of the brand has been transformed into economic value.
According to Mr. Nguyen Hoang An, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cai Bat Crab Cooperative (Ca Mau), the purchase price of medium and small-sized crabs (about 4 crabs/kg) ranges from 300,000 to 400,000 VND/kg.
Large meat crabs (Y3, Y5, Y7) are currently priced at 350,000-550,000 VND/kg depending on firmness and quality. During holidays and Tet (Lunar New Year), the price of large Ca Mau crabs can reach 1-1.2 million VND/kg or more.
According to Mr. An, despite its high economic value, crab farmers in Ca Mau are still worried about finding buyers. Mr. An stated that, in addition to domestic wholesalers and purchasing businesses, many Chinese businesses and traders have recently come directly to the crab farming areas in Ca Mau to buy the product. Therefore, the price of Ca Mau crabs is heavily influenced by the Chinese market – a major export market for this product.
To expand the market, enhance product value, and increase competitiveness, representatives of the Cai Bat Cooperative believe that it is still necessary to standardize production processes, ensure transparency of origin information, and strengthen links with distribution businesses.
This is also an important condition for Ca Mau crabs to better exploit the advantages of geographical indication, meet the increasingly high demands of the market, and reduce dependence on traditional distribution channels.
One of the approaches being implemented is reorganizing production through cooperatives, building standardized farming areas, applying traceability systems, and connecting with businesses.
In fact, Ca Mau crabs have been exported to many countries in the region, with China accounting for more than 70% of the locality's total export volume.
This shows that the Chinese market plays a crucial role in the output of Ca Mau's crab industry, and also highlights the need to expand distribution channels to mitigate risks when the main market fluctuates.
During the Lunar New Year, Ca Mau crabs can fetch prices of over 1 million VND/kg for large ones (Photo: DN).
According to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Processors (Vasep), the 27% export growth in the first eight months of the year has created further room for development in Vietnam's crab industry. However, to maintain this result, market expansion must go hand in hand with improving quality and building brand recognition.
Vasep believes that, first and foremost, businesses need to take advantage of opportunities in rapidly growing markets such as the US, while continuing to explore other potential markets. Diversifying outputs will help reduce dependence on a few large markets, thereby mitigating risks when demand or import policies change.
Furthermore, promoting the geographical indication value of Ca Mau crab should be considered part of the strategy to enhance the value of the industry. Local brands only truly create a competitive advantage when associated with controlled quality, transparent information, and the ability to supply and meet the requirements of each market.
