Following the merger of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu provinces, the new administrative unit has emerged as the nation’s largest shrimp farming center, with an export value reaching USD 2.4 billion. Surprisingly, Dak Lak - a province historically known for coffee - has entered the top 10 shrimp producers nationwide.

According to the latest report from the Directorate of Fisheries and the Department of Fisheries Surveillance under the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, Vietnam’s brackish water shrimp farming area reached 749,800 hectares in 2024, yielding over 1.29 million tons of shrimp.

Specifically, black tiger shrimp accounted for 628,800 hectares with a yield of 338,800 tons, while white-leg shrimp covered 121,000 hectares and produced 951,700 tons.

Shrimp exports in 2024 reached USD 3.9 billion, marking a 14% increase compared to the previous year.

The report also indicated that 28 provinces and cities nationwide are involved in brackish water shrimp farming. Among them, Bac Lieu, Ca Mau, Soc Trang, Ben Tre, and Kien Giang have consistently been the top five shrimp-producing localities.

However, following administrative mergers, the scale and output of shrimp production have significantly shifted among these regions.

Preliminary figures show that after the merger of Ca Mau and Bac Lieu, the combined area for brackish water shrimp farming reached approximately 407,251 hectares, with a total output of 509,360 tons in 2024.

In terms of both area and production, the new Ca Mau province now holds the title of Vietnam’s largest shrimp farming hub - accounting for 54.3% of the country’s shrimp farming area and 39.5% of its total shrimp production.

In 2024, Ca Mau’s shrimp exports totaled USD 1.27 billion, while Bac Lieu contributed USD 1.13 billion. Together, the newly merged province generated USD 2.4 billion in shrimp exports - representing 61.5% of the country’s total shrimp export revenue.

Following Ca Mau is Vinh Long, which, after a hypothetical merger with Ben Tre and Tra Vinh, would have a total shrimp farming area of 92,331 hectares and an output of 258,270 tons.

Prior to the merger, Vinh Long was known for catfish farming and cage aquaculture, but did not engage in shrimp production. In contrast, Ben Tre ranked fourth and Tra Vinh sixth nationwide in brackish water shrimp production.

Similarly, Can Tho City, which previously had no shrimp farming activity, now ranks third in shrimp output nationwide after merging with Soc Trang and Hau Giang, reaching a production of 204,554 tons.

In addition to these three merged provinces, the top 10 shrimp-producing localities also include: An Giang, Quang Ninh, Ho Chi Minh City, Dong Thap, Thanh Hoa, Dak Lak, and Nghe An.

Of particular note, Dak Lak - a Central Highlands province traditionally known for its robust coffee, pepper, durian, and fruit farming - has unexpectedly entered the top 10 shrimp producers in Vietnam after merging with the south-central coastal province of Phu Yen.

Tam An