In August this year, shrimp exports continued to record double-digit growth in most major consumer markets, such as the US, China, and the EU. Markets such as Japan and South Korea recorded a slight increase.
Reduced inventories and the need to import goods for the holiday season have caused markets to increase imports. In addition, raw shrimp prices from producing countries around the world as well as Vietnam tend to increase, positively affecting shrimp export prices.
For the US market, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US increased by 21% to 91 million USD in August. In the first 8 months, shrimp exports to this market reached 482 million USD, up 7% over the same period last year.
Inventory levels in the US have decreased; retailers need to replenish inventory before the year-end holiday season. Positive information about the US economy has also helped Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US to be more positive.
For the Chinese and Hong Kong markets, Vietnam's shrimp exports to this market continued to recover in August with double-digit growth compared to the same period last year. In the first 8 months, shrimp exports to this market reached 477 million USD, up 21% compared to the same period last year.
Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China have increased again thanks to increased import demand from this market. In addition, Ecuador (Vietnam’s main competitor in the Chinese market) has faced strict inspections from China, and some shipments were rejected in June due to sodium metabisulfite residues. This has affected Ecuador’s shrimp exports to China.
According to China Customs, in the first seven months of this year, the volume of frozen warm-water shrimp imported into China decreased by 11% and 23% compared to the same period last year to 529,116 tons, equivalent to 2.5 billion USD. The economic situation in China is not very positive, reducing consumer purchasing power. However, the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day holidays in China are expected to boost shrimp consumption here.
Raw shrimp prices and export prices both tend to increase
In the second week of September 2024, the price of whole chilled whiteleg shrimp increased by about 20% compared to the same period in 2023. Compared to the beginning of August 2024, the price of 30-count and 40-count shrimp increased by about 40%. Smaller shrimp increased by 13%–19% compared to the beginning of August.
The export price of Vietnamese white-leg shrimp to the US has been on an upward trend since February this year. The export price of white-leg shrimp to the Japanese market is also expected to increase due to the popularity of Vietnamese value-added and processed products and the appreciation of the yen.
Although in August, market demand was more positive and shrimp prices also tended to be positive, the Vietnamese shrimp industry still faced many challenges, especially in the farming stage when facing diseases in shrimp farming such as EHP. The shrimp industry needs the cooperation of management agencies and the entire chain to ensure the source of raw materials at the end of the year for processing and export.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius export value reached US$1.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. In September alone, exports totaled US$210 million, an increase of 16%. China, the United States, and Brazil were the three largest markets, accounting for 49% of total export value. While China and Brazil maintained their growth momentum, exports to the US remained below the level recorded in the same period last year.
(vasep.com.vn) On November 11, 2026, in Can Tho, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) will organize the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029: Opportunities and Headroom for Double-Digit Export Growth.”
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Business leader Do Ngoc Tai, General Director of Tai Kim Anh Seafood Processing Joint Stock Company, was honored by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the title “Outstanding Vietnamese Entrepreneur – Thanh Giong Cup 2026” at a ceremony celebrating Vietnam Entrepreneurs’ Day (October 13). The event took place on the evening of October 11, 2026, at the National Convention Center in Hanoi.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market is becoming increasingly segmented, not only among producing countries but also by product type and destination market. Supply is divided into groups with distinct competitive advantages: large volumes of whole fish and frozen fillets from Asia, high-value fresh fillets from Latin America, and substantial domestic consumption in several major producing countries.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports to the UK grew in the first eight months of 2026, despite signs of slowing import demand in the market. However, sharp fluctuations in orders, competition from major suppliers, and new traceability requirements are creating challenges for Vietnamese exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam is stepping up efforts to combat illegal fishing, protect marine ecosystems, expand digital monitoring, and develop science-based management to ensure the sea can support communities and the economy for generations to come.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The EU remains a critical market for Vietnamese shrimp; however, purchasing demand and import patterns are undergoing notable changes. According to Vietnam Customs data, as of September 15, 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU reached nearly $374 million, down 5% year-over-year and accounting for 10.7% of the country’s total shrimp export value. Meanwhile, the EU’s stotal shrimp imports through July 2026 contracted by 7% in volume, exhibiting divergent trends across Southern Europe, Northwestern Europe and Eastern Europe. These dynamics necessitate that Vietnamese enterprises closely monitor individualized market demand, rather than approaching the EU as a monolithic consumer block.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of surimi and fish cakes remained relatively stable year-over-year compared to 2025. Following a contraction in the initial months, export performance demonstrated improvement from June onward, peaking in August. However, the recovery has been uneven, characterized by divergent trends across major markets: robust growth was recorded in China, Japan, Malaysia, the United States, and Taiwan, whereas export volumes to South Korea, Indonesia, and select European markets contracted.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains one of Dong Thap’s key aquaculture species, with the province focusing on developing an integrated value chain covering seed production, commercial farming, deep processing and by-product utilization. The province is promoting high-tech, circular pangasius farming models featuring reduced water exchange and enhanced biosecurity, aiming to improve production efficiency and strengthen control over raw material quality.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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