In terms of product structure, whiteleg shrimp remained the largest contributor with USD 573 million, accounting for 53.6% of total exports and rising 6.3%. Black tiger shrimp reached USD 80.7 million, up 10.8%. The most notable growth came from the “other shrimp” category, which totaled nearly USD 415 million, up 39.3%. Of this, lobster alone reached USD 345.5 million, surging 57.4% and becoming the key growth driver in the quarter. This indicates that while whiteleg shrimp remains the foundation of the industry, short-term growth is clearly driven by lobster and other high-value shrimp products.
By market, China and Hong Kong continued to lead growth, with exports reaching USD 440.1 million, up 57.2%, accounting for over 41% of Vietnam’s total shrimp exports. This market alone imported USD 341.6 million worth of Vietnamese lobster, up 58.4%, equivalent to 77.6% of total shrimp exports to China and Hong Kong. Meanwhile, exports to the EU reached USD 120.4 million, up 16.7%; CPTPP markets totaled USD 270.2 million, up 5%; Taiwan rose 59.2%; and ASEAN increased 38.6%, providing additional support for overall growth. In contrast, exports to the U.S. dropped sharply by 28.8% to USD 95.8 million; South Korea declined 1.4%; and markets such as Russia and Switzerland also continued to fall. Overall, Q1 data shows that growth is heavily dependent on China and a few alternative markets, while traditional markets remain slow to recover.
In the U.S., anti-dumping duties continue to be a major barrier for Vietnamese shrimp. Ongoing reviews of countervailing duties and risks of reciprocal tariffs have also made importers more cautious.
Another significant pressure comes from production and logistics costs. In Q1/2026, domestic shrimp prices generally declined toward the end of the quarter, while costs for feed, inputs, and transportation remained high. The conflict in Iran and tensions in the Middle East have continued to push up global energy and logistics costs, eroding profit margins and competitiveness for exporters.
Outlook for Q2/2026
In Q2/2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports are likely to continue showing strong divergence. China and Hong Kong will remain the main growth drivers, especially for lobster and live/fresh shrimp, although growth may slow after the early-year peak season. The EU may continue to grow but is unlikely to maintain the same pace as in Q1, as buyers become more cautious and price competition from Ecuador and India intensifies. Japan and South Korea are expected to remain stable, with opportunities concentrated in processed and convenience products. The U.S. market may see some improvement toward the end of the quarter if uncertainty around tariff reviews eases, but overall it will still face pressure from tariffs, price competition, and logistics costs.
For the full year 2026, if no major policy shocks occur and domestic raw material supply is not severely disrupted by disease or high input costs, Vietnam’s shrimp exports could still achieve positive growth. However, growth is likely to remain uneven across quarters and markets. The industry will need to rely on two pillars: leveraging demand from China and high-value segments such as lobster, while strengthening the competitiveness of whiteleg and black tiger shrimp in key markets like the U.S., EU, Japan, and South Korea. As Ecuador continues to maintain a cost advantage and India remains a strong competitor in scale, Vietnam’s sustainable advantage will lie in deep processing, consistent quality, flexible supply capabilities, and increasingly strong compliance standards.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Aquaculture, capture fisheries, and seed production activities in Lam Dong in the early months of 2026 continued to show positive signs, with both output and farming area slightly increasing compared to the same period, contributing to maintaining overall industry stability.
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