Exports to the three major markets (the Netherlands, the UK, Germany) rose by 46%, 20% and 36%, respectively in the first seven months of this year.
The Netherlands and the UK were the two largest shrimp importers of Vietnam in the EU. In the first half of this year, shrimp exports to the Netherlands hit over US$107 million, up 74% over the same period last year. Vietnam stayed as the largest supplier of shrimp to the Netherlands, accounting for 22% of the total import value into this market in 2017. India ranked the second, accounting for 15.1%. In this market, the share of Vietnamese shrimp was on the upward trend from 11.5% in 2015 to 22.5% in 2017, while the proportion of Indian shrimp (the main competitor of Vietnam in this market ) was down from 18% in 2015 to 15% in 2017.
From the second rank in top shrimp importers of Vietnam in the EU, from September 2017, the Netherlands became the leading shrimp importer of Vietnam and kept its rank up to now. Of that, sales of whiteleg shrimp to , the Netherlands accounted for the highest rate of 86%, followed by black tiger shrimp with 10% and other shrimp with 4%. In the country, the demand for processed whiteleg shrimp (HS code 16) from Vietnam was on the upward trend.
Within the EU, the UK stayed as Vietnam's second largest shrimp importer behind the Netherlands, accounting for 23% of Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU and accounting for 5.7% of total shrimp exports to all markets. In the first half of 2018, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the UK reached US$93 million, up 23% over the same period last year. Over the last three years, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the UK have grown steadily from US$114.6 million in 2014 to US$210.6 million in 2017, an increase of nearly 84%. Shrimp exports to the UK tended to increase as the UK boosted imports of warmwater shrimp thanks to affordable prices to replace coldwater shrimp. The price of coldwater shrimp is increasing due to a decline in the production.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU market still enjoys the GSP incentives and while the two competitors (India and Thailand) strongly reduced their exports to this market.
The EU increased imports of steamed raw shrimp for processing and re-exporting. In addition, the products meeting the requirements of environmental and social responsibility are also selected by consumers.
|
Top 7 shrimp importers in the EU-28 |
|||
|
Countries (2017) |
Volume (MT) |
Value (FOB, EUR mil.) |
Average import price (FOB EUR/kg) |
|
Spain |
149,414 |
962.1 |
6.44 |
|
France |
76,364 |
595.6 |
7.51 |
|
UK |
66,645 |
372.6 |
5.59 |
|
Italy |
54,513 |
348.2 |
6.39 |
|
Netherlands |
40,346 |
328.4 |
8.14 |
|
Belgium |
36,547 |
331.2 |
7.69 |
|
Germany |
23,229 |
226.8 |
9.77 |
|
Portugal |
15,636 |
108.2 |
6.92 |
(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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