Although this is a relatively small market, the UAE is considered a potential one due to its growing demand for seafood, including shrimp, especially after the recent signing of the Vietnam-UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which opens up new opportunities for shrimp exports to this market.
In the first nine months of this year, shrimp exports to this market reached US$7.4 million, accounting for 0.3% of the total and growing by 34% compared to the same period in 2023.
Key shrimp products exported to this market include frozen black tiger shrimp, frozen cooked PDTO whiteleg shrimp, frozen fresh EZP shrimp, frozen whole black tiger shrimp, frozen cooked whiteleg shrimp, frozen fresh PD shrimp, frozen breaded whiteleg shrimp, frozen fresh whiteleg shrimp, and frozen fresh Nobashi whiteleg shrimp.
Major shrimp exporters to the UAE include Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Service Joint Stock Company, Nam Kinh Seafood Company Limited, Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, and Minh Phu Giang Seafood Joint Stock Company.
|
Top 10 Largest Shrimp Exporters to UAE, Q1-Q3/2024 |
||
|
No. |
Company name |
Proportion (% Value) |
|
1 |
Ca Mau Seafood Processing and Service Joint Stock Company |
26,3 |
|
2 |
Nam Kinh Seafood Company Limited |
22,8 |
|
3 |
Minh Phu Seafood Corporation |
14,4 |
|
4 |
Minh Phu - Hau Giang Seafood Joint Stock Company |
7,4 |
|
5 |
Seafood Travel Construction Import-Export Joint Stock Company |
6,2 |
|
6 |
Dong Nam Seafood Import-Export Company Limited |
4,7 |
|
7 |
Sapawi Company Limited |
3,2 |
|
8 |
Silvera Food Trading Company Limited |
2,2 |
|
9 |
Phuoc Long Seafood Import-Export Company Limited |
2 |
|
10 |
Gallant Ocean Vietnam Joint Stock Company |
1,5 |
|
(Source: compiled by VASEP, for reference only) |
||
In the UAE market, Vietnamese shrimp face competition from India, China, and Ecuador. India dominates nearly 60-70% of the market share, while Ecuador has recently entered the market with a 15% share, whereas Vietnam's market share is only about 5-7%. India seems to have taken advantage of tariff preferences in this market to increase its shrimp export market share over the years. It is expected that with the newly signed CEPA, Vietnam is hopeful that its shrimp exports will soon enjoy the highest tariff incentives, facilitating an increased market share.
CEPA is Vietnam’s first free trade agreement with an Arab nation, opening a new era in upgraded and increasingly substantive relations between Vietnam and the UAE in particular and Arab countries in general.
Notably, both sides have made strong commitments to trade liberalization, with the UAE pledging to gradually eliminate tariffs on 99% of Vietnam's exports to the UAE. The agreement also includes many provisions to facilitate trade and investment, in line with current trends of digital transformation and green development.
With its strategic geographic location, advanced logistics system, and modern seaport infrastructure, the UAE serves as a vital gateway that can enable Vietnamese goods to access and expand into Middle Eastern, African, and European markets.
Moreover, the growing population, high income levels, rapid urbanization, increasing disposable income, and young people's preference for seafood, as well as the increasing online search for seafood products in recent years are expected to boost seafood consumption in the region.
However, the UAE remains a highly competitive market in terms of price and quality. Vietnamese enterprises need to adopt advanced science and technology in production, adjust management methods, minimize intermediate costs, in order to reduce product costs and enhance the competitiveness of their products. In addition, enterprises need to build a Halal certification system for shrimp products when exporting to this market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho City statistics indicate that in 2025, following the merger of three former administrative entities - Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang - fisheries output in 2025 increased by 6.23% compared with 2024 with aquaculture production nearly 9.1 times higher than capture fisheries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ca Mau province has achieved significant, comprehensive and substantive progress in combating IUU fishing in 2025, successfully fulfilling all tasks directed by the central government and strengthening fisheries governance. These efforts have established a solid foundation for the nationwide effort to lift the EC’s "yellow card" warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau has exceeded its 2025 production targets, reaching nearly 595,000 tons of shrimp. This milestone reinforces the province’s position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp producer and a bright spot in the country’s seafood sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, cumulative shrimp exports from the beginning of the year through November reached $4.3 billion, up 21% year-on-year, continuing to serve as the primary growth driver of the entire seafood sector. In November alone, export turnover amounted to $393 million, up 14%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, the fisheries sector continued to stand out as a bright spot in Ca Mau’s economic landscape, maintaining positive growth in both output and value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of November 2025, Vietnam’s total pangasius export turnover had exceeded the $2 billion threshold, registering a 9% compared with the same period in 2024. In November alone, pangasius exports reached $195 million, also posting a 9% increase year-on-year, underscoring a stable recovery trajectory for the sector in the final months of the year.
Building on over three decades of trusted leadership, VASEP is proactively shaping a Dynamic Knowledge Ecosystem where data is transformed into actionable value and forward-looking insights for the business community
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) An Giang is focusing on expanding climate-adaptive marine aquaculture models, aiming for safe and sustainable production. This approach not only enhances economic efficiency but also helps fishermen stabilize their livelihoods amid weather fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first 10 months of 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to China (including Mainland China and Hong Kong) reached $483 million, up 1% compared to the same period in 2024. October alone posted $73 million, a strong 19% increase year-on-year. The Chinese market currently accounts for nearly 27% of Vietnam’s total pangasius export value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to data from Vietnam Customs, the country’s lobster exports posted another strong month in October 2025, reaching $93 million - a 75% increase from the same month in 2024. This performance extends the sector’s impressive growth streak from earlier in the year, pushing cumulative exports for the first 10 months to $712 million, up an extraordinary 135% year-over-year. Within the product mix, green lobster remained the dominant driver, accounting for 98% of total export value, with $700 million recorded in the first 10 months - a 141% jump year-on-year. In contrast, exports of spiny lobster and other lobster varieties declined slightly by 22% and 1%, respectively, indicating that market demand is becoming increasingly concentrated on the most sought-after product line.
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