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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
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