Ornate rock lobster prices rise sharply as supply plummets

A seafood store in HCMC’s Binh Thanh Ward said it has hiked prices by 15% in just the last month as the lobsters become increasingly difficult to procure.

A store in Ben Nghe Ward said it has only managed to buy a few dozen kilograms this month, 30% less than in previous months. A store employee said there have been several bulk orders but not enough supply.

Ornate rock lobsters at a seafood store in Ho Chi Minh City's Ben Thanh Ward. Photo by VnExpress/Thi Ha

Last month many farms in Dak Lak’s Xuan Dai Bay saw their lobsters die en masse after prolonged heavy rains and flooding.

The bay, where farms have over 27,000 for breeding lobsters, is one of the country’s largest suppliers.

Farmers had to quickly sell surviving lobsters at half price to prevent further losses.

Ornate rock lobster supply was gradually declining even before that as farms switched to smaller varieties.

Hung, a farmer in the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa, said since last year China, the main market for Vietnamese lobsters, has mostly bought small lobsters weighing under 0.3 kilograms instead of large-sized ones like before.

So many farms have switched to green lobsters, which are easier to sell, he added.

Doan Van Quang, director of the Song Cau Lobster General Service Cooperative in Dak Lak, said he expects prices of both varieties to rise as many green lobster farms plan to scale down production due to recent weather conditions.

Tran Van Tuong, CEO of seafood restaurant chain Hai San Hoang Gia, said imported ornate rock lobsters are also hard to find.

He said supply from Australia typically drops from December, when the fishing season ends.

Vietnam exported US$712 million worth of lobsters in the first 10 months of 2025, up 135% year-on-year, with China and Hong Kong accounting for $702 million, according to customs data.

Green lobsters accounted for $700 million after rising by 141% from a year earlier. Shipments of other varieties fell slightly.

The Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers said demand from China is likely to remain high from now until the Lunar New Year in mid-February.