Shrimp exports decreased in the context of technical barriers from importing markets increased, demand for shrimps in the world market decreased due to high inventory. Besides, the supply of raw shrimp was limited, the price of raw shrimp increased, causing factories to lack raw materials for production.
Compared to Feb 2016, the proportion of white shrimp for exports increased (accounting for 63% of total shrimp exports) while the proportion of black tiger shrimp exports decreased (28%), the proportion of marine shrimp increased (9%). Frozen/live/frozen white shrimp (HS 03) reached the highest value of US$129.3 million; Processed white shrimp (HS 16) ranked the second with US$109.1 million USD.
Top 10 main markets included Japan, the EU, the US, China, South Korea, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, Taiwan and Switzerland, accounting for 95.4% of Vietnam shrimp exports.
In February 2017, Vietnam shrimp export value to the US and China decreased by 25% and 8.6%, respectively. In contrast, Japan, the EU, Korea and Canada were prominent markets with good growth. In particular, exports to Japan grew at best 33.6%, South Korea (+ 18.8%); EU (+ 16,2%); Canada (+ 16,6%).
In the first two months of 2017, Japan rose to the top position on shrimp import of Vietnam, accounting for 21.4%. EU ranked second with 19.5%. The US dropped to the third position, accounting for only 18.6% of total shrimp exports of Vietnam.
EU and Japan
In the first two months of 2017, the EU and Japan were two markets showing positive signs of recovery in shrimp imports from Vietnam.
Shrimp exports to Japan began to recover from August 2016 and continued to grow until February this year. If in 2016, shrimp exports to Japan increased only 2.7%, in the first two months of this year, the growth rate reached 33.6% (the highest growth rate in the top shrimp importing markets of Vietnam) with an export value of US$81 million.
Thanks to the competitive export price and agricultural cooperation programs promoting between Vietnam and Japan, exporting shrimp to this market will continue to increase.
In 2016, after slump in the first half of the year, shrimp exports to the EU maintained growth in all months of the second half of the year. Remaining the growth of 2016, exporting shrimp to this market in the first two months of this year increased 16.2% to US$73.7 million.
In the three largest single markets in the block, exports to the UK and the Netherlands grew by 4.3% and 127.1%, respectively, while exports to Germany decreased by 11.5%.
Although not sharply increased, exporting shrimp to the EU in the coming months is forecasted to increase more than 10%.
The US
In 2016, shrimp exports to the US grew well in the first three quarters. Exports have tended to fall in the last quarter of 2016. In the first two months of 2017, shrimp exports to this market reached US$70.4 million; a decrease of 25% compared to the same period of 2016.
After the decline at the beginning of the year, demand for shrimps from the markets will inch up. With the growth momentum of imports from Japan, EU, Korea; Vietnam shrimp exports in March 2017 is expected to slightly increase over the same period in 2016.
By Kim Thu
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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