Shrimp exports to the EU reached 38 million USD in April this year, up 28% over the same period. Cumulatively, in the first 4 months of this year, export value to the market reached 119 million USD, almost equivalent to the same period last year.
In April of this year, shrimp exports to the EU were quite exciting. Export value to the main single markets in the bloc all grew by double digits. Exports to Germany, the Netherlands,and Belgium increased by 29%, 37%, and 39%, respectively; exports to Denmark increased sharply by 88%.
The Global Seafood Exhibition 2024 takes place in Spain in April with the participation of many Vietnamese shrimp exporters. Here, fresh value-added shrimp products from Vietnam were promoted to European consumers and importers. Instant shrimp products are processed by businesses into many diverse dishes and attracted visitors to enjoy right at the booths.
In 2023, Vietnamese shrimp exports to the EU decreased significantly compared to 2022. The Russia-Ukraine war, consumers spending frugally, rising prices, rising gasoline, and devaluing the EUR are the reasons for demand consumption in this market is slow.
In the EU market, Vietnamese shrimp have to compete strongly with Ecuadorian shrimp. Ecuador has the advantage of cheap shrimp and lower shipping costs. Ecuador is still the largest shrimp supplier to the EU market.
The EU market requires farmed shrimp to meet safety standards (ASC), requires suppliers to have solutions to reduce emissions (farming, processing), and requires full traceability (shrimp feed ingredients, shrimp broodstock), requiring animal welfare (brood shrimp do not have their eyes cut off during artificial reproduction, are raised at moderate density...). Shrimp exporters to this market need to have a more systematic market access strategy and further promote the marketing and promotional activities of their products.
In Northwest Europe (including markets such as Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, etc.), these markets are tending to convert to more convenient forms of shrimp products and value-added shrimp products.
In Southern Europe, including the markets of Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, etc., prices play an important role in determining market dynamics. Therefore, affordable white-leg shrimp products will be more popular.
With an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 7% in the coming years, the EU is also a shrimp consumption market that offers many opportunities. Adapting to changing market dynamics and product innovation is important to maintain competitiveness in this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) More than five years after the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) took effect, Vietnamese seafood is steadily expanding its market share in the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s major seafood import markets with stable and diverse consumer demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At Van Hung Commune, Khanh Hoa Province, the Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Aquaculture Research Center and the Van Hung Public Service Center, organized a technical training course on the industrial-scale production of disease-free golden pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) seed for local marine fish farmers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports maintained a strong recovery in the first five months of 2026, reaching more than USD 302 million, up 17% compared to the same period in 2025. Growth was primarily driven by Asian markets, including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and China, while exports to the United States and the European Union continued to face headwinds from cautious consumer demand and increasingly stringent compliance requirements.
Vietnamese seafood giant Minh Phu Group has inaugurated a VND1.5 trillion (US$57.4 million) seafood processing plant in Ca Mau Province.
(vasep.com.vn) From 19–21 August 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability", Vietfish 2026 continues to serve as Vietnam's flagship annual seafood event, bringing together seafood producers, exporters, importers, buyers, industry experts, government agencies, and stakeholders from across the domestic and global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in May 2026, reaching USD 14 million, up 18% compared with the same month last year. Cumulative export value for the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 62 million, representing a remarkable 101% increase over the same period in 2025, highlighting the sector’s strong recovery in international markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 367 million in the first five months of 2026, down 7% compared to the same period in 2025. While the decline is not yet severe, the more concerning issue is that pressure is mounting in key markets such as the United States and the European Union, just as ocean freight rates are rising sharply on long-haul routes. The current situation is therefore not merely about slower orders, but rather a clear restructuring phase for Vietnam’s tuna industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
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