In the first 2 months of 2023, Vietnam's shrimp exports to South Korea reached more than 46 million USD, down 25% compared to the same period in 2022. Shrimp exports to South Korea in the first months of this year followed a general downward trend as the world economy fell into recession, inflation increased, purchasing power decreased.
In 2022, South Korea is a market with stable shrimp consumption demand. Moreover, the advantage of close distance, and a quite moderate inflation rate have helped to boost Vietnam's shrimp exports to South Korea to reach $468 million, up 26% compared to 2021.
In 5 years (2018-2022), Vietnam's shrimp exports to South Korea grew steadily from 386 million USD in 2018 to 468 million USD in 2022, up 21%. In particular, whiteleg shrimp products exported to Korea have grown sharply and continuously from 2019 up to now.
The FTA between Vietnam and South Korea, which was effective since 2015, has facilitated trade and import tariffs for Vietnamese shrimp products. However, according to detailed information from VASEP member enterprises, Vietnamese shrimp products imported into Korea are being subject to quota regulations.
The South Korea Government request auctions to buy shrimp import quotas from Vietnam at the price of 14-16% of the import value.
Outside the quota, the import tax rate is 20%. Thus, importing Vietnamese shrimp into Korea will be charged tax rates of 14-20%. This is a big disadvantage, causing lower competitiveness of Vietnamese shrimp in this market.
Meanwhile, Peru and Korea also have FTA, according to that, the tax of 20% is reduced under the 5-year roadmap from August 2011. Now the tax rate for Peru shrimp has reached 0%, so its shrimp products exported to the Korean market do not have quotas and taxes.
Every year, South Korea imports over 100,000 tons of shrimp with a value of $800 million - $1 billion (ITC data). In which, Vietnamese shrimp always occupies the highest market share of over 50%. The volume of shrimp exported to South Korea by Vietnam has been more than 50,000 tons, which is 3-4 times higher than the quota amount (15,000 tons with 0% import tax).
From 2018-2022, shrimp exports from Peru to South Korea increased 10 times. Particularly in 2022, shrimp imports to South Korea from Peru recorded a strong growth of 176% compared to 2021.
In order to improve the competitiveness of Vietnamese shrimp in the Korean market, VASEP has sent an Official Letter to the Minister of Industry and Trade, proposing the Government, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to review and proposed to the Korean side to consider abolishing shrimp import quotas from Vietnam and to adjust the tax rate to 0% for Vietnamese shrimp in VKFTA.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) By the end of 2025, Vietnam’s seafood industry had left a strong mark with export turnover reaching nearly $11.3 billion, up 12.4% year-on-year. This robust performance reflects not only a rebound in global consumption demand but also the agile adaptation of domestic firms in navigating increasingly stringent trade barriers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the 2025 review and 2026 outlook conference held by the Directorate of Fisheries and Fisheries Surveillance on the afternoon of January 7, Vietnam’s seafood sector has set a total production target of over 10 million tons in 2026, representing a 0.6% increase year-on-year. Of this total, capture fisheries are projected at around 3.75 million tons (down 2.1%), while aquaculture output is expected to reach 6.25 million tonnes (up 2.2%) compared with 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Sao Ta Food JSC (Fimex, Ticker: FMC) has announced its 2025 business results, reporting revenue of over $300 million (approximately 7.8 trillion VND), representing a 19.8% increase year-on-year; projected profit is expected to reach approximately 420 billion VND.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s fisheries sector concluded 2025 with landmark achievements: export turnover reached a record high, despite heightened volatility in global trade and increasingly stringent barriers from major markets, most notably the United States. Amid a mix of opportunities and challenges, the fisheries sector also witnessed important policy shifts. Together, these developments form a multifaceted picture of an industry proactively adapting and restructuring toward a trajectory of sustainable development.
(seafoos.vasep.com.vn) According to the Department of Agriculture and Environment of Vinh Long, the province’s shrimp farming area reached 69,800 hectares in 2025, including 7,500 hectares under high-tech farming models, 18,820 tons of black tiger shrimp and 293,000 tons of whiteleg shrimp.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Building on a robust growth momentum in 2025, Nghe An province has set a strategic goal to reach a total fisheries output of 270,000 tons by 2026, reinforcing its position as a key hub for aquaculture and exploitation.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho City statistics indicate that in 2025, following the merger of three former administrative entities - Can Tho, Hau Giang and Soc Trang - fisheries output in 2025 increased by 6.23% compared with 2024 with aquaculture production nearly 9.1 times higher than capture fisheries.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the Ca Mau Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, Ca Mau province has achieved significant, comprehensive and substantive progress in combating IUU fishing in 2025, successfully fulfilling all tasks directed by the central government and strengthening fisheries governance. These efforts have established a solid foundation for the nationwide effort to lift the EC’s "yellow card" warning.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau has exceeded its 2025 production targets, reaching nearly 595,000 tons of shrimp. This milestone reinforces the province’s position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp producer and a bright spot in the country’s seafood sector.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to Vietnam Customs data, cumulative shrimp exports from the beginning of the year through November reached $4.3 billion, up 21% year-on-year, continuing to serve as the primary growth driver of the entire seafood sector. In November alone, export turnover amounted to $393 million, up 14%.
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
