However, in 2016, shrimp imports into this market for the first time after 6 years showed signs of recovery with the growth rate of 4% to hit US$2.4 billion. Shrimp imports from Thailand and India into Japan increased by 5% and 9%, respectively, while those from in Vietnam and Indonesia were down 2% and 5%, respectively.
In 2016, demand for shrimp from Japan was improved. Market demand for high-end marine and farmed black tiger shrimp climbed up. Sales of semi-processed/peeled/tail-on shrimp and processed shrimp also went up in 2016. Imports of processed/value-added shrimp such as cooked/peeled shrimp, ready to cooked tempura shrimp, shrimp for sushi and other shrimp products accounts for 27% of total shrimp imports into Japan. Demand for peeled/tail-on shrimp (PTO) and frozen raw shell-on shrimps was also high in supermarkets and tempura shrimp processing companies.
Shrimp imports into Japan in the first 3 months of this year following the upward trend of 2016 with the value of US$493.3 million, up 7% over the same period of 2016. Out of top 4 main shrimp suppliers to Japan, imports from Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia increased, in which, imports from Vietnam witnessed the highest rise of 27%; while those from India experienced the deepest dive of 33.9%.
Vietnam remains the largest shrimp supplier to Japan, accounting for 25.9% of the total shrimp imports into the country; followed by Thailand with 18.3%; Indonesia with 16.3% and India with 7.9%. In QI/2017, top largest shrimp suppliers to Japan has not changed since 2015. The average import price of shrimp from Vietnam quoted at US$12/kg.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Japan began to recover from August 2016 and continued to grow until March this year. If in 2016, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Japan increased by 2.7%, the figure in Jan-Mar 2017 was 29.6% with the export value of US$135.4 million.
Thanks to double digit growth in the first three months of this year, Japan has become Vietnam's largest shrimp importer from the third rank.
Vietnam stayed as the biggest supplier of frozen shrimp (HS code 030617) to Japan, accounting for 61% of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to this market. Frozen shrimp (mainly whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp) picked up 90% of total shrimp consumption in Japan. Frozen shrimp is one of main parts in traditional Japanese dishes such as sushi and tempura.
In Japan, this item from Vietnam has to compete strongly in price with the same products from Indonesia, China, India and Thailand.
|
Shrimp imports into Japan, QI/2017 |
|||
|
Suppliers |
QI/2016 |
QI/2017 |
Variation (%) |
|
World |
460,912 |
493,279 |
7.0 |
|
Vietnam |
100,421 |
127,573 |
27.0 |
|
Thailand |
79,182 |
90,163 |
13.9 |
|
Indonesia |
78,711 |
80,637 |
2.4 |
|
India |
58,672 |
38,770 |
-33.9 |
|
China |
27,960 |
28,371 |
1.5 |
|
Argentina |
23,794 |
27,420 |
15.2 |
|
Russia |
12,697 |
24,316 |
91.5 |
|
Canada |
17,619 |
13,994 |
-20.6 |
|
Myanmar |
8,149 |
8,397 |
3.0 |
|
Mexico |
4,511 |
7,213 |
59.9 |
|
(Source: ITC; thousand US$) |
|||
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Nearly US$1.7 billion is the projected gap in 2029 between the baseline scenario and a scenario in which Vietnam’s seafood exports grow by 10% annually, according to calculations by VASEP to be presented at Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026. This gap raises a key question for the entire industry: Which markets, products and supply chain improvements will generate the additional growth?
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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