Shrimp Farm Cost: A 2026 Global Breakdown
What it really costs to build a commercial shrimp farm — pond, RAS and biofloc — with regional benchmarks for India, Vietnam and Ecuador.
Shrimp farm cost depends on three things: system type, location and target stocking density. A semi-intensive earthen pond cluster in India can land at USD 8,000–15,000 per hectare for civil and aeration. A super-intensive lined pond in Vietnam runs USD 60,000–120,000 per hectare. A full RAS shrimp facility is typically USD 1,500–3,500 per m² of production tank.
Civil works
Pond excavation, dikes, drains, intake/outlet channels and reservoir ponds. Lined ponds add USD 4–7 per m² for HDPE.
Aeration and water exchange
Plan 18–25 HP per hectare for intensive operations. Paddlewheels are cheapest; aspirators and Venturi systems offer better oxygen transfer per kWh.
Hatchery and post-larvae
PL cost is typically USD 3–6 per 1,000 PL10 depending on country and SPF status.
Financing
Equipment leasing and working capital can be evaluated by independent third-party providers — financing is not guaranteed.
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