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) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang City has fully implemented all recommendations from the European Commission (EC) regarding the fight against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, creating an important foundation for the removal of the “yellow card” in the near future.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Hoa Vang district (Da Nang City), red tilapia farming is demonstrating clear economic efficiency, becoming a promising livelihood that helps many households increase their income. A notable example is the model of Mr. Huynh Ngoc Nam, who operates two red tilapia ponds covering more than 4 hectares, generating stable annual income.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Gia Vien district, tilapia farming—particularly the “duong nghiep” strain—is expanding rapidly and gradually becoming an efficient production model for local farmers. Hatcheries in the area are supplying high-quality, uniform, and disease-free fingerlings, meeting the growing demand for commercial farming.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
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