Vietnam’s shrimp exports rebounded thanks to a rise in demand from major importing. The area of brackish water shrimp farming in the first 8 months of the year estimated at over 679,000 hectares, up 4.2% over the same period last year; with the yield of over 363,000 MT, up 21.4% year on year.
In Vietnam's shrimp export structure, shipments of whiteleg shrimp remained to account for the highest proportion of 64.2%; those of black tiger shrimp were 24.5% and those of marine shrimp took up 11.2%. The export proportion of whiteleg shrimp increased from 60.4% in Jan-Aug 2016 to 64.2% in the period, that of marine shrimp increased from 8.2% to 11.2% and that of black tiger shrimp dipped from 31.4% to 24.5%. Sales of whiteleg shrimp hit US$1.2 billion; up 29% while those of black tiger shrimp reached US$605.9 million; down 5% over the same period last year. Of that, exports of processed black tiger shrimp witnessed the deepest decrease of 29% year on year.
Top 10 main importers of Vietnam shrimp included the EU, Japan, China, the U.S, South Korea, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, Taiwan and Switzerland. Of that, exports to most of these markets showed the positive growth but the U.S.
EU
According to data from Vietnam customs, in the first 8 months of 2017, the EU became the largest buyer of Vietnam shrimp. Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU in the period reached US$483.6 million, increasing by 30% year on year.
Through Aug 2017, exports to top 3 largest shrimp importers (the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium) in the EU posted the 2-digit growth of 46.5%; 47.8% and 34.1%, respectively. Vietnam’s shrimp sales to the EU currently were positive as EU consumers prefer value-added seafood products and increase imports to meet the demand of year-end festivals.
This is a good sign, which facilitates Vietnam’s shrimp exports to this market in the last months of the year in the context of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) is coming into effect.
In the first half of this year, EU shrimp imports from other suppliers including Vietnam benefited from the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Ecuador and the EU. Each year, the EU imports about 40,000 MT of whiteleg shrimps with the tariffs of 0% under the tariff-quota system. This will help to boost Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU.
In addition, the EU is stepping up inspections of shrimp lots from India and tends to reduce shrimp imports from the country. While India is Vietnam's main competitor in the EU market, imports into the EU from Vietnam expected to rise to offset the decrease in imports from India.
The U.S
The U.S dropped to the 4th rank in top leading shrimp importer of Vietnam in the first 8 months of this year. Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the US valued at nearly US$416 million; down 4.4% over the same period in 2016.
Shrimp shipments to the U.S in the first half of this year were on the downward trend due to a climb in the anti-dumping duties that the Department of Commerce (DOC) announced in the preliminary decision on its 11th administrative review (POR11) and the dollar's depreciation due to the impact of President Donald Trump's new policies on domestic production protection.
In addition, the strong competition from India (Vietnam's main competitor in the U.S) has also reduced Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market.
Vietnam’s shrimp sales to the U.S tended to go up from May to August this year. Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market in the last months of the year forecasted to increase thanks to high demand at the end of the year.
Thanks to the good demand from Asian markets (Japan, China, South Korea) and the EU, Vietnam’s shrimp exports in 2017 are projected to total US$3.4 billion; up 6% compared to 2016.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
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