Price of fresh Vietnamese tra has surged in recent days with the first class fish selling at 15,500 VND (US$0.94) a kg on September 2 against 14,500 VND available in late August.

Processors are rushing for the fish to meet increasing demand for exports when markets are expanded to Russia, Ukraine, East Europe and the Middle East.

In August, enterprises in An Giang province, the nation's biggest region of the fish, exported almost 25,000 tons of products.

At the moment the supply of large-sized catfish has failed to meet increasing demand in traditional markets of Russia, Ukraine and the Middle-East. In the last two days, many companies could buy just 70 per cent of their need.

Enterprises have offered farmers 16,000 VND (1USD) per kg and even more for future purchases in fear of dire shortages in the days to come.