According to ITC, in the first four months of 2020, Vietnam was still the largest shrimp supplier to Japan, accounting for 26.5% of total shrimp imports into this country. Thailand ranked second with 16.7%, followed by Indonesia at 15.8% and India at 12.2%. The average price of shrimp imports from Vietnam and Thailand gets the highest levels, at US$11/kg and US$11.25/kg, respectively. In the top of major suppliers, Vietnam has to compete on price with other suppliers in this market (Indonesia: US$10.25/kg, India: US$8.96/kg ...).
For raw shrimp (HS code 030617) imports into Japan, the import tax for Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia and India shrimp was equal to 0%, the import tax for shrimp of Argentina, and China was 1%. Before receiving preferential treatment from the trade agreements between Vietnam and Japan, Vietnamese shrimp products HS code 160521 and 160529 exports to Japan were taxed respectively 1.08% and 1.42%.
Notably, among the top staple suppliers, shrimp imports into Japan from India in the first four months of this year grew by 19%. In early April 2020, Japan reduced the frequency of tested samples for black tiger shrimp imports from India from 100% to 30% as the test no longer found furazolidone in shrimp lots from India. This is a good opportunity for Indian shrimp processors to increase exports to Japan. To date, Japan consumes nearly 40% of India's total export of black tiger shrimp. As such, Vietnamese shrimp will have to compete more with Indian shrimp in this market.
According to the data of Vietnam Customs, Japan was the largest shrimp importer of Vietnam, accounting for 21% of the total export value of Vietnamese shrimp to markets. In the first four months of 2020, Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan reached nearly US$180.5 million, up 11% over the same period in 2019. In the first four months of 2020, Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan grew sharply in February 2020 with 63.2% and April 2020 with 19%, exports in January, and March declined slightly.
For many years, Vietnam has maintained its No. 1 position in shrimp supply to Japan thanks to its advantages over other suppliers in the Japanese market. The ASEAN-Japan Free Trade Agreement (AJCEP) came into force on December 1, 2008, and the Vietnam-Japan Bilateral Free Trade Agreement (VJEPA) came into force on October 1, 2009. These agreements helped create favorable conditions for tariffs on Vietnam's seafood exports to Japan. Shrimp exports to Japan are more conducive when CPTPP takes effect from January 2019.
2020 is considered to be the second year the Japanese economy grows low. The real GDP of the Japanese economy is expected to grow by only 0.49% in the fiscal year kick-off in April 2020. Trade tensions with South Korea, the political situation in the US continue to affect the Japanese economy. It is unlikely that Japan will increase its seafood consumption demand, including shrimp in 2020. It is expected that Vietnam's shrimp exports to Japan will not increase in 2020.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(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.
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