BioMar to partner with Viet-Uc on shrimp feed production

Brande, Denmark-based BioMar has signed a memorandum of understanding with leading Vietnamese shrimp postlarvae supplier Viet-Uc Seafood with the aim of establishing a collaboratation on aquafeed production in Vietnam.

Through the non-legally binding deal, the two sides will form a partnership under which BioMar will become a “part-owner and operational lead” in a Viet-Uc’s feed factory, BioMar said in a statement on 23 April.

A representative from Viet-Uc confirmed to SeafoodSource on 24 April that the MoU has been signed. BioMar will become a major shareholder of Viet-Uc Aqua Feed Company and will be operator of its feed factory located in the Mekong Delta province of Ben Tre.

“The partnership with BioMar will help Viet-Uc, and Vietnam as well, to produce a ‘perfect shrimp’ – that is, the shrimp must be completely clean and traceable,” the representative said, adding that BioMar’s R&D capability in the feed sector will benefit the long-term development strategy of the Vietnamese company.

The two companies see a “strong match” in values, focus, and visions: Viet-Uc operates the biggest shrimp hatchery in Vietnam, while BioMar Group is a global supplier of high-quality aqua feeds based on extensive R&D and market insights, BioMar said.

“We believe that a feed partnership with Viet-Uc in Vietnam will bring important synergies to the feed business as well as the hatchery and grow-out business of Viet-Uc,” BioMar CEO Carlos Diaz said in the statement. “Both companies have a common focus on sustainability, food safety, traceability, quality, and performance, which we believe will be strong drivers to strengthen and develop both companies as well as the aquaculture industry in Vietnam. There is no doubt that there will be a growing market for high quality feed in Vietnam.”

BioMar has shrimp feed factories in Ecuador and Costa Rica. Since 2012, the company has taken part in the development of feed and technical services for the shrimp industry.

Diaz said he believes the two companies’ collaboration, which aims to produce high-quality postlarvae and promote genetic and nutritional development, is an important milestone for the shrimp industry in Vietnam.

Last year, Viet-Uc opened a high-tech shrimp farm in Quang Ninh in northern Vietnam, and it operates eight other hatchery facilites across the country’s southern and central regions. It sold more than 16 billion postlarvae in 2018, accounting for nearly 27 percent of the total supply of around 60 billion postlarvae in Vietnam. But it has experienced a slowdown in business due to the coronavirus crisis, and is offering customers significant discounts on postlarvae shrimp in order to encourage sales.

Photo courtesy of Viet-Uc Seafood