Each year Australia imports an average of about 40,000 MT of shrimp from other countries. In 5 years (2013-2017), the import volume of shrimp into Australia reached the highest level of 44.5 thousand MT in 2014.
In 2017, Australian shrimp imports totaled 32.3 thousand MT, worth by US$340.4 million, down 21% in volume but up 14% in value compared to 2016. Vietnam was the largest shrimp supplier to Australia, accounting for 32.9% of total Australian shrimp imports. Thailand was the second largest, accounting for 27.4%; followed by China with 25.5%. Australia's shrimp imports from the three biggest suppliers (Vietnam, Thailand and China) all increased by 32.9%, 27.4% and 25.5%, respectively over 2016.
Imports of frozen raw warm water shrimp (HS code 030617) took the largest share of total shrimp imports into Australia, followed by processed shrimp (HS160521). In 2017, imports of frozen raw warm water shrimp accounted for 48.6% of shrimp imports into Australia while those of processed shrimp picked up nearly 30%.
In this period, imports of processed shrimp into the country increased by 90% while those of frozen raw shrimp decreased by 9% due to a ban on uncooked shrimp imports in early 2017. Shrimp prices on the Australian market during this period also increased by 10-15% due to a fall in supplies. Although Australia has now lifted the import ban, with the stricter import conditions, imports of frozen raw shrimp into the country remain low.
On the Australian market, Vietnam shrimp has competitive prices. In 2017, the import price of Vietnam shrimp into Australia quoted at US$10.7/kg; that from Thailand and China was US$10.69/kg and US$10/kg, respectively; and that from India was US$13.5/kg. More and more Australian consumers choose frozen shrimp imported from Asian countries like Thailand and Vietnam thanks to lower prices and improved quality.
In 2017, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Australia hit nearly US$120 million, up 4.6% over 2016. In the first month of 2018, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Australia showed many positive signs with the growth rate of 169.7% to eye nearly US$11 million.
Processed shrimp made up 78% of Vietnam’s total shrimp exports to this market. In the past 5 years, Vietnam has always been the largest supplier of processed shrimp to Australia.
The demand for shrimp in the market keeps quite high due to the limited catch and processed production of shrimp in the country because of high labor force. Shrimp consumption increased rapidly while domestic supply was not enough to meet demand.
During the first week of March 2017, the Australian Department of Agriculture and Water Resources sent a delegation to Vietnam to inspect and evaluate the process and quality of shrimp production in Vietnam.
During this visit, experts from Australia's Department of Agriculture and Water Resources have a very positive view of the Vietnamese shrimp industry. Accordingly, the shrimp industry has approached and applied many solutions and modern technology in production to improve productivity and product quality.
Australian importers appreciate Vietnam shrimp very well. Early evaluations of safe and good production have shown the prospect of Vietnamese whole shrimp exports to Australia.
Currently, more than 90% of shrimp products in Australia are imported. Each year the value of Vietnam's seafood exports to Australia took a low proportion, mainly cooked shrimp. This shows that there is a big opportunity to export whole fresh shrimp to the market.
(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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