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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnamese seafood exports recorded impressive growth, generating nearly 6 billion USD in revenue during the first six months of the year, up 13% compared with the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Fishermen in Ha Tinh are gradually overcoming difficulties to maintain the efficiency of seafood exploitation. In the first six months of 2026, the entire province achieved a production of more than 23,000 tons of seafood, worth more than 1,200 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) June 2026 brought encouraging signs for Vietnam's tuna exports, with export value rising 20% year-on-year to nearly USD 72 million. However, this increase has yet to offset the prolonged slowdown seen in key markets such as the European Union (EU), where import demand remains weak. The outlook for the second half of the year is expected to become more challenging as freight rates continue to climb.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), in collaboration with the Agency for Domestic Market Management and Development under the Ministry of Industry and Trade, will organize the Domestic Seafood Supply–Demand Matching Program on the morning of August 20, 2026, at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), Ho Chi Minh City. The program aims to foster direct business connections between Vietnamese seafood producers and processors and domestic distributors, retailers, and foodservice channels.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Cooking Show will be one of the most engaging experiential highlights of Vietfish 2026. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, 2026, at Hall B1, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City, the event will offer visitors a vibrant culinary space where Vietnamese seafood is showcased through its flavors, stories, and real-life culinary applications.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's pangasius exports reached USD 205 million in June 2026, up 5% compared with the same month in 2025. Cumulative export value for the first six months of the year totaled USD 1.1 billion, an increase of 12% year-on-year. Growth was primarily driven by strong demand from China and CPTPP markets, while exports to the United States and Brazil continued to decline.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first six months of 2026, Ha Tinh province continued to implement comprehensive solutions to combat IUU fishing; strictly manage the fishing fleet, control fishing vessels entering and leaving ports, operate vessel tracking devices, trace the origin of seafood, and severely punish violations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports reached USD 7 million in June 2026, down 32% compared with the same month in 2025. Nevertheless, thanks to strong growth in the first five months of the year, cumulative tilapia exports in the first half of 2026 totaled USD 69 million, up 67% year on year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sa Giang Import-Export Joint Stock Company, a member of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), has been honored with the "Famous Brand - Competitive Vietnamese Brand 2026" certification at an award ceremony organized by the Vietnam Intellectual Property Association (VIPA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) China imported nearly $1.4 billion worth of Vietnamese seafood in the first half of the year, a 40% increase compared to the same period last year, surpassing the US to become the largest export market for the industry.
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