Ca Mau crab is gradually conquering demanding markets.

Expectations from Ca Mau crab farmers

According to Nguyen Van Phu, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Thanh Nien Global Trading Joint Stock Company (Thanh Nien Global), the signing marks a strategic step in the company’s plan to expand its live crab export market to key destinations such as China, Taiwan, and Singapore.

“We are not here merely to buy and sell for profit. We are here to work together to build a distinctive brand, Ca Mau Crab,” Phu emphasized.

He shared that in nearly two years since Thanh Nien Global officially entered the crab export market, output has increased rapidly, from a few hundred kilograms per day to 15–20 tons per day, accounting for about 30% of Vietnam’s live crab export market share. The company aims to reach a 50% market share by 2026, with the partnership and supply support of the cooperatives signing today.

“Thanh Nien Global commits to purchasing all qualified crab supplied by the cooperatives, in full compliance with market requirements. We believe this partnership will help the company secure abundant raw materials, sustainably develop key markets, and at the same time provide local farmers and cooperatives with stable outlets and higher value,” Phu said.

As a key partner, Nguyen Hoang An, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Cai Bat Crab Cooperative (Hung My commune, Ca Mau province), said that he and many cooperative leaders in the province have high expectations for the cooperation with Thanh Nien Global. “Ca Mau regards crabs as its signature product, and there is no shortage of crabs here. What farmers truly need is a stable market and reasonable prices so that the crab can reclaim its rightful value,” An expressed.

According to An, Cai Bat Cooperative currently has 130 members, including 26 official members and 104 associate members, managing a total farming area of more than 311 hectares, of which 52 hectares belong to official members and nearly 80 hectares to associate members. Each year, the cooperative supplies between 80 and 90 tons of crabs to the market.

Sharing the same view, Tien Y Nguyen, Director of Ca Mau Salted Crab Cooperative, said that cooperatives are fully capable of providing a stable year-round supply of crabs with guaranteed quality and traceable origins. Nguyen hopes that beyond product purchasing, Thanh Nien Global will also support communications, marketing, and commercialization activities for crab products, helping farmers gain deeper access to international markets.

“We hope this cooperation goes beyond selling crabs, it is about elevating the Ca Mau crab from local ponds and lagoons to global markets. That is the path to sustainable development,” Nguyen stated.

Linkages, the key to increasing value

Ca Mau currently has the largest crab farming area in Vietnam, with approximately 260,000 hectares under the integrated shrimp–crab–fish–rice model, producing around 31,200 tons annually. The province aims to reach 40,000 tons by 2030, with 30% of the production destined for export.

In recent years, Ca Mau has focused on leveraging its extensive extensive-farming areas, promoting eco-shrimp–crab farming models to create safe, traceable raw material zones. Pilot projects are gradually forming internationally certified farming areas, such as ASC, to enhance commercial value.

According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Environment, the province has developed 62 hectares of standard crab farming models that incorporate probiotics into integrated shrimp–crab systems, aiming to reduce disease risks, increase survival rates, and enhance meat quality.

Ca Mau crabs are famous for their firm texture and sweet flavor, often called the “green gold” of the Mekong Delta. As one of the province’s two key aquatic products, alongside shrimp, the crab industry is expected to make a significant contribution to Ca Mau’s seafood export turnover, which is projected to exceed USD 2.4 billion per year in the coming years.

Experts note that for Ca Mau crabs to conquer demanding markets, establishing a production–consumption value chain is essential. The province needs to strengthen farming standardization, apply advanced technology, and tighten water environment management.

In reality, Ca Mau’s crab industry still faces several challenges: traditional extensive farming results in low productivity; production linkages remain weak; some farming areas have not yet met traceability standards; and climate change and disease outbreaks continue to pose risks.

Therefore, the signing agreement between Thanh Nien Global and 20 cooperatives is considered an important starting point for building a value chain that ensures both input and output stability. When the supply is organized systematically, fully traceable, and meets export standards, Ca Mau crabs will have the opportunity to establish a stronger brand identity in the global seafood market.

The signing ceremony carries not only commercial significance but also represents a commitment to accompany the sustainable development of the Ca Mau crab industry. With the participation of 20 cooperatives, hundreds of crab-farming households will benefit from stable purchasing mechanisms, technical training, and support to meet international standards.

“We hope to help make Ca Mau crab a national brand, just as people recognize Canadian lobster or Alaskan king crab. That dream is entirely achievable if we work together and do it right,” Phu shared.

The collaboration between enterprises and cooperatives, as well as between the market and farmers, is key for Ca Mau to transform its potential into value and elevate the “Ca Mau Crab” brand to the global stage.