TONNES of agriculture produce including rice, vegetables and eggs are stuck in the 26 southern Vietnamese provinces due to the lockdowns imposed over Covid-19.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said they include five million tonnes of padi, four million tonnes of vegetables and fruits, 400 million eggs, 600,000 tonnes of chicken, 120,000 tonnes of seafood and 80,000 tonnes of pork.
This is due to the transport restrictions imposed in 19 Covid-hit southern localities including Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC), which is a major consumer base.
According to a Vn Express report, although the government has directed local authorities to prioritise transport of essential goods, there were no consistent regulations and this hampered the flow of goods.
Long An province authorities said the closure of three wholesale markets and a number of traditional markets in HCMC has resulted in its dragon fruit and rice being left unsold.
Exporters are also facing issues as a shortage of containers is causing produce to pile up at ports, while container transport costs have surged 10-fold.
The ministry said it wants to buy up to four million tonnes of padi to stockpile.
Meanwhile, the prices of imported king crabs and abalones have risen by 30 to 50 per cent in HCMC due to limited supply caused by the restrictions.
The Express said king crabs are being sold at VND2.5 to 2.9 million (US$109-126) per kilogram, 50 per cent higher than last year.
Australian and South Korean abalones are sold at 30 per cent higher at VND1.6 to 1.8 million while salmon prices are up 18 per cent at VND650,000.
The limited number of flights coming into Vietnam is also attributed to the price hike.
Many seafood sellers are now increasing the sale of domestic seafood items such as red tilapia and squid to survive.
The severe Covid-19 outbreak in the southern provinces is also said to have forced up to 70 per cent of seafood companies there to close down.
According to a report by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), many were unable to service their debts to banks or pay suppliers, and have lost customers.
It said the remaining 30 per cent also face operational challenges due to increasing costs and are operating only at 30 to 50 per cent of their workforce.
Average production has fallen by about 50 per cent and companies also face difficulties in buying packaging and other materials.
VASEP has proposed that vaccinations be prioritised for workers as it would help them keep their jobs and factories to remain open.
It also proposed that factories should be allowed to test their workers twice a month and send the samples to health authorities to reduce the burden on government medical personnel.