Seafood companies post profit surge as global demand recovers

Vinh Hoan Corporation, the largest listed seafood company, posted after-tax profits of over VND550 billion ($23.9 million) in the first quarter, up 4.2 times year-on-year.

Cuu Long Fish Joint Stock Company·also saw its profits surge over 5.7 times against the same period last year to VND63 billion, the highest quarterly profit since late 2018.

IDI International Development & Investment also recorded after-tax profits of over VND200 billion, the highest quarterly profit since 2010 when it began releasing financial reports.

Nam Viet Corporation reported a three-time year-on-year surge in profits to VND206 billion while Camimex Group saw its profits double to VND25.1 billion.

Sao Ta Foods Joint Stock Company, another seafood firm, reported its profit surging nearly 1.5 times year-on-year to VND42.2 billion.

The surge in profits among seafood companies in the first quarter was credited to surging prices and recovering global demand.

Vietnam’s seafood exports grew by 40 percent year-on-year to $2.4 billion in Q1 despite direct impacts of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis.

Growth was led by pangasius catfish, whose exports increased by 88 percent to $646 million and accounted for 27 percent of overall exports, according to the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers.

Shrimp remained the top seafood export item, accounting for 37.5 percent of the total at over $900 million, up 37 percent.

A recent report by Rong Viet Securities Corporation said that pangasius exports would record a strong recovery this year due to increased global demand and supply shortage from Russia. The high selling price will last until the end of the second quarter due to increase in raw material prices.

An Binh Securities warned of downside risks like surging feed and logistics costs and fierce competition from other exporting countries like India, Ecuador and Indonesia.

On the stock market, the seafood sector has posted gains over the past months, with some hitting the ceiling regardless of the overall gloomy market trend.

On Friday, Vinh Hoan closed at around VND104,000, up 55 percent since January.