According to data from the US Department of Agriculture, breaded shrimp exports from Vietnam to the US in the first 5 months of 2019 reached 4,281 tons, worth 30.9 million, up 53% in volume and 48% in value compared to the same period in 2018. In the context of shrimp exports to the US declined from the beginning of the year, the growth rate of this product can be considered a positive sign.
In the first 5 months of 2019, US breaded shrimp imports reached 17,748 tons, worth US$124.3 million, down 1% in volume and be equivalent in value over the same period in 2018. China, Thailand and Vietnam were the three main suppliers of breaded shrimp for the US, accounting for 31%, 26%, and 25% of the total import value of US breaded shrimp respectively.
As of May May, 2019, China exported 6,839 tons of breaded shrimp to the US, worth US$38.3 million, down 33% in volume and 36% in value over the same period in 2018. Meanwhile, export of Thai breaded shrimp to the US reached 3,545 tons, worth 32.6 million, up 62% in volume and 49% in value over the same period in 2018.
Of the three main suppliers of breaded shrimp for the US, China is subject to a 25% tax as the United States imposes US $ 200 billion of Chinese goods in May 2019, leading to a dramatic drop in the production of breaded shrimp to the US. The US's importers are looking for other suppliers to replace China.
In terms of Thailand's competitiveness in the US market for breaded shrimp products, Thailand has difficulty competing with China due to high production costs. The export price of Thai breaded shrimp is always higher than that of China and Vietnam. In the first 5 months of 2019, the average export price of breaded shrimp from Thailand reached US$9.2/kg while these of from China and Vietnam reached US$5.6/kg and 7.2 US$/kg, respectively.
In order to gain market share from China and Thailand, Vietnam needs to invest in production lines, producing products with competitive prices. China currently dominates the US market for breaded shrimp products thanks to the low cost of producing products, providing goods to the US at the most competitive price compared to rival suppliers.
In the context of traditional Vietnamese shrimp products exports (such as IQF goods) to the US had to compete firecely with other rival such as India (with cheap price advantage) and Indonesia (not subject to anti-dumping tax). Along with breaded shrimp is considered as a good value-added product with high profit margin, focusing on breaded shrimp exports to the US can be a reasonable plan for Vietnamese enterprises in the time to come.
|
Breaded shrimp (HS 1605211020) imports of the US (Value: USD thousand, Volume: MT tone) |
||||||||
|
Suppliers |
2018 |
Jan-May/2018 |
Jan-May/2019 |
Variation (%) |
||||
|
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
|
|
Total |
359,998 |
52,247 |
124,799 |
17,897 |
124,337 |
17,748 |
-- |
-1 |
|
China |
181,198 |
30,989 |
59,682 |
10,162 |
38,269 |
6,839 |
-36 |
-33 |
|
Thailand |
70,303 |
7,092 |
21,915 |
2,192 |
32,589 |
3,545 |
49 |
62 |
|
Vietnam |
55,214 |
7,510 |
20,830 |
2,793 |
30,853 |
4,281 |
48 |
53 |
|
Indonesia |
30,248 |
3,728 |
14,228 |
1,723 |
13,390 |
1,891 |
-6 |
10 |
|
Ecuador |
17,569 |
2,240 |
7,493 |
948 |
4,391 |
570 |
-41 |
-40 |
|
Guatemala |
4,170 |
536 |
174 |
26.7 |
2,578 |
329 |
1,386 |
1,134 |
|
Argentina |
563 |
44.5 |
229 |
15.3 |
761 |
52.9 |
233 |
246 |
|
Others |
733 |
105.5 |
249 |
34.8 |
1,507 |
238 |
505 |
584 |
|
(Source: FAS.USDA) |
||||||||
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn