Consumers in
Current imports for Agama, a $200 million revenue importer, processor and distributor of shrimp, are currently practically nothing, Igor Salagaev, marketing manager at the firm, told Undercurrent News.
“Demand is very slow. Normally we import around 3,000 tons per month raw material, but at the moment, nothing,” he said.
Looking at yearly import statistics for shrimp, of which cooked, head-on, shell-on is the main product for the Russian market, it is clear that demand is dwindling. The volume of shrimp imported in 2012 was 30,245 metric tons – 21% lower than just two years previously.
So far for 2013 Agama has imported 10,843t, and Salagaev forecasts the year total will reach 26,500t – another 12% drop year-on-year.
“The big picture is that the coldwater shrimp market is going down,” he said. “The market will lose 10%, 15% of imports.”
“Just look at the monthly figures: the standard monthly imports is around 2,500 – 3,000 mt. In April- May it was about 1,000-1,400t. We have not been importing for the past months as well.”
There are two reasons for this drop in imports, and the first is the price for the importer.
Several of the largest Russian firms have traditionally focused on importing small sizes shrimp, 180+ pieces per kg, or 200+, said Salagaev, whose own firm Agama has been paying more attention to larger shrimp.
The prices for these shrimp have been increasing for several years now, and has stabilized at a level much higher than it used to be.
“People only just started to care about quality, last year maybe. Now they are beginning to buy good quality shrimp” “Russian importers are not interested. They were buying cheap, and selling on as a cheap product,” he said. “Now if they buy it they have to sell it at a worse margin.”
He also pointed out that the ruble has lost 10% against the euro and the dollar, which makes it even less worthwhile purchasing expensive products to sell cheaply.
The second reason for the drop in imports is that Russian consumers are buying less prawns at better levels of quality.
The MSC certification of Greenland’s shrimp fishery means little to
“People only just started to care about quality, last year maybe. Now they are beginning to buy good quality shrimp.”
Once again he has the statistics to back this: last year Agama’s sales of own-brand, larger sized shrimp was around 195t per month. This year sales have been 260t per month.
Around three months ago the firm, which is in the process of setting up a chain of stores throughout
“Another item is the 50/70, which is popular in
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of March 19, Vice Chairman of the Ca Mau Provincial People’s Committee, Le Van Su, chaired a meeting to address bottlenecks and propose solutions to expand the super-intensive whiteleg shrimp farming model using low water exchange and high biosecurity standards (RAS-IMTA).
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On March 10, 2026, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee issued Decision No. 1377/QD-UBND approving the Aquatic Animal Disease Prevention and Control Plan for the 2026–2030 period. The decision takes effect from the date of signing and replaces previous plans for the 2021–2030 period that had been issued prior to the administrative merger in Ba Ria – Vung Tau, Binh Duong, and Ho Chi Minh City.
(vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Chile imported more than USD 156 million worth of tuna, up 8.1% compared to the previous year and the highest level in the past five years. As the supply structure in this market is rapidly shifting, Vietnamese tuna is facing both opportunities to expand market share and increasing competitive pressure from Thailand, Colombia, and China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vinh Long Province is stepping up efforts to develop brackish water shrimp farming in a sustainable direction, identifying it as a key sector in its agricultural structure. In 2026, the province aims to reach around 71,300 hectares of shrimp farming, with an output of over 314,000 tons.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ha Tinh Province is strengthening control over shrimp seed quality to minimize risks for the 2026 spring–summer farming season.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports reached USD 119 million, down slightly 5% year-on-year. However, thanks to strong performance in January, cumulative exports in the first two months of the year still reached USD 331 million, up 28% compared to the same period in 2025. Export activity slowed somewhat in February due to seasonal factors, particularly the Lunar New Year holiday, which disrupted production and shipments at many seafood processing enterprises.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Da Nang is accelerating the development of high-tech shrimp farming toward intensive production, disease control, and improved efficiency. Many shrimp farms have invested in automated environmental monitoring systems, continuously tracking indicators such as pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature, and salinity, enabling farmers to promptly adjust pond conditions and reduce disease risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 is considered a turning point for Vietnam’s shrimp seed industry as the sector faces the need for strong transformation in technology, production management, and gradual self-sufficiency in broodstock supply. These factors are seen as key to improving seed quality and strengthening the competitiveness of the shrimp industry amid increasingly demanding market requirements.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In February 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached nearly USD 310 million, up 17% year-on-year. Cumulatively for the first two months of the year, shrimp export value totaled USD 690 million, an increase of 20% compared with the same period last year. Compared with the 22% growth recorded in January, the pace of increase in February slowed somewhat, reflecting seasonal factors as the Lunar New Year holiday partially disrupted processing and shipment activities. Nevertheless, the nearly 20% growth in the first two months indicates that shrimp orders from Vietnam are maintaining a more positive trend than in the same period last year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to the latest statistics for January 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius export value to major market blocs recorded encouraging growth compared with the same period last year, indicating that consumption demand is gradually recovering.
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