Growth momentum was mainly driven by China and Japan—two markets that recorded strong demand ahead of the Lunar New Year. China remained the largest market with export value reaching USD 129.6 million, up 15% year-on-year. Japan posted USD 44.8 million, an increase of 31%. Stockpiling for holiday consumption and improving purchasing power in the region helped exporters maintain solid shipment volumes from the beginning of the year.
Meanwhile, exports to the United States totaled USD 43.8 million, up 22% year-on-year but slightly down compared to December 2025. This indicates that while demand in the U.S. remains steady, it has yet to create a significant breakthrough in overall export value.
Product structure: whiteleg shrimp continues to lead
Whiteleg shrimp remained the key growth driver with USD 216.9 million, accounting for 57.1% of total export value and rising 31% year-on-year. Both processed and frozen raw shrimp segments posted solid growth, reflecting relatively balanced demand across raw material and value-added categories.
Black tiger shrimp reached USD 29.2 million, up 34%, though its share remains modest. This suggests that current growth still largely depends on whiteleg shrimp—a product that is more sensitive to price fluctuations and trade policy changes in major markets.
U.S. market: more stable after POR19, new tariffs yet to show immediate impact
A key issue closely monitored by businesses in February was the final result of the anti-dumping duty review (POR19), which has just been announced. The outcome was generally less unfavorable than previously feared, significantly easing psychological pressure on exporters and U.S. importers. The absence of a sharp tariff increase provides a relatively stable foundation for ongoing and negotiated orders.
At the same time, on February 23, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that tariffs imposed under the IEEPA were unlawful. From 00:01 on February 24, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officially stopped collecting these retaliatory tariffs. However, the U.S. simultaneously implemented a global 10% tariff under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, effective for a maximum of 150 days and applied in addition to existing duties.
As the 10% tariff only took effect from February 24, 2026, its actual impact on export turnover in February is expected to be limited and may become clearer from March onward. In the short term, seasonal factors and the final POR19 results remain the primary variables influencing transactions.
In terms of market position, the U.S. currently ranks behind several Asian markets in import value of Vietnamese shrimp. Nevertheless, it remains a price-setting and sentiment-influencing market. With the more favorable-than-expected POR19 outcome, short-term risks have been partially contained, although the 10% global tariff remains a factor to monitor in Q2/2026.
Outlook for february and beyond: Asia as the growth pillar
Shrimp exports in February 2026 may slow due mainly to seasonal factors, as the Lunar New Year holiday disrupted production and shipments. The high base in January also makes it difficult to sustain a similar growth rate.
Under current conditions, Vietnam’s shrimp industry is increasingly relying on Asian markets, particularly China and Japan, as key growth drivers. If demand in the region remains stable after the holiday period, it will serve as an important pillar for Q1/2026 performance.
For the U.S. market, the medium-term outlook depends on two factors: the actual implementation of the 10% global tariff during its 150-day period and potential policy adjustments afterward. While the POR19 result helped the market avoid a new shock, the trade environment still requires businesses to proactively review pricing structures, control costs, and closely monitor U.S. regulatory guidance.
Overall, January 2026 opened on a positive note for Vietnam’s shrimp industry. However, sustaining growth in the coming months will require enterprises to remain flexible in adapting to policy changes while capitalizing more effectively on opportunities in Asian markets, which are playing an increasingly significant role in Vietnam’s shrimp export structure.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to CPTPP markets reached $264 million in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year-on-year and accounting for 17% of the nation’s total pangasius export turnover. In August alone, export value reached $34 million, inching up 3%.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached $3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth momentum is moderating and market divergece is becoming more pronounced, while the US and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global shrimp forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers place greater emphasis on quality, product specifications, supply consistency and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports continued to grow in August 2026, bringing total export value in the first eight months of the year to US$1.5 billion, up 10% year-on-year. August exports alone reached US$205 million, up 6%. However, market performance has become increasingly divergent, with China and Brazil posting positive growth while the U.S. continued to record a sharp decline.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached US$1.14 billion in August 2026, up 6.4% year on year, bringing the total for the first eight months to more than US$8.0 billion, an increase of 11.9%. Monthly export value remained above US$1 billion, but August growth was only around half the rate recorded cumulatively through the first eight months. This indicates that the eight-month result was supported significantly by stronger performance in earlier months, while market conditions are entering a less predictable period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius is attracting growing interest from Japanese seafood companies as prices of many traditional whitefish species remain high and supply becomes increasingly volatile. Notably, seafood group Kyokuyo has recently continued to feature pangasius among its priority products, highlighting its competitive pricing and stable supply.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As Vietnam’s tilapia industry searches for new growth opportunities, venturing into brackish-water aquaculture could unlock a formidable competitive moat. Bypassing the volume-and-price bloodbath against established global heavyweights, Vietnam could differentiate itself through high-quality tilapia products tailored to specific farming conditions and value-added market segments.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) 2026 is rapidly shaping up to be a formidable stress test for Vietnamese pangasius exports to the United States. While exports to alternative markets maintain a resilient growth trajectory, the U.S market has declined significantly. In the first eight months of the year, pangasius exports to the U.S fell by nearly 14% year-on-year, with August alone recording a decline of more than 50%. The trend shows that difficulties in the U.S. market are not driven solely by weak consumer demand, but also by multiple layers of trade barriers that are intensifying simultaneously, particularly additional import tariffs, anti-dumping duties and growing protectionism for the domestic catfish industry.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan are showing positive signals in 2026, indicating that the market is opening up greater opportunities for pangasius products, particularly processed and value-added products. In the first seven months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to Japan reached US$31 million, up 20% year-on-year. In July alone, export value reached approximately US$5 million, up 30%.
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