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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first three months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cake and surimi reached USD 63 million, down 5% compared to the same period last year. Although total export value declined slightly due to decreases in some key markets, many other destinations continued to post strong growth, opening up room for this convenience-oriented processed segment in the coming quarters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Favorable weather conditions in the early months of 2026 have brought encouraging signs for fisheries activities in Quang Tri. Output has grown steadily, contributing to improved livelihoods for local residents.
Entering 2026, Vietnam’s seafood industry is facing a period of both high expectations and mounting pressures. Following the positive recovery in 2025, production and export activities in Q1/2026 demonstrated the strong adaptability of Vietnam’s seafood business community amid continued global trade volatility, intensifying international competition, and increasingly stringent compliance requirements in import markets.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
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