In May 2023, exports to major markets still dropped by double digits. Only exports to smaller markets such as the UK and Taiwan recorded positive growth. In May 2023, China ranked first in importing Vietnamese shrimp, accounting for 23%. The US ranked second, accounting for 21%.
As of May this year, China and the US have steadily increased export turnover, higher than the previous month. Shrimp exports to the Chinese market in May still recorded negative growth but the decrease was less than in previous months (March recorded a decrease of 40%, April decreased by 22%, May decreased by 11%).
The US market also has a similar trend to the Chinese market. According to data from the US Department of Commerce, in the first 4 months of 2023, shrimp imports into the US reached 521 million pounds (about 236,039 tons), down 18% compared to the same period in 2022. April 2023, imported some shrimp products Vietnam's imports into the US recorded growth compared to March 2023 such as raw shrimp with shell increased by 211% compared to March 2023, peeled raw shrimp increased by 46%, steamed shrimp and powdered shrimp increased 13% and 20% respectively.
Diseases and wars lead to a global economic downturn and an increase in inflation. Consumers become more cautious in spendings, reduce spendings, and choose more affordable products. This caused demand for shrimp to decrease while shrimp supply, especially from Ecuador and India, is increasing. Countries such as Indonesia and Ecuador harvest shrimp early with a successful shrimp production in both quantity and size, directly competing with Vietnamese shrimp. These countries are also supplying at a cheaper price than Vietnamese shrimp from 1-2 USD/kg, making it difficult for Viet shrimp exporters to find orders. Meanwhile, the domestic price of raw shrimp has decreased continuously in recent months, affecting the whole shrimp industry.
In the first 5 months of 2023, Vietnam’s shrimp export turnover reached 1.2 billion USD, down 34% over the same period last year.
In the current difficult context, the business community hopes that the State Bank will continue to pay attention and consider a demand stimulus package of 10,000 billion VND for aquaculture in the Mekong Delta. If they can access credit, it will help shrimp exporters to buy raw materials for export from now on for 3-6 months in 2023 and in the first quarter of 2024. Implemented stimulus early will help calm shrimp farmers, help them continue stocking instead of hanging ponds.
Vietnamese shrimp is increasingly less competitive compared to Ecuador, India. To raise commercial shrimp with low cost and high success rate, we must have close coordination among stakeholders in the industry chain. This entails collaboration between companies that produce high-quality shrimp seeds, offer affordable and top-notch feed, and provide farming products at reasonable prices.
The whole shrimp industry is also waiting for the Government and ministries to have solutions to remove difficulties for the industry in terms of cost reduction, loan interest reduction, electricity bills, simplification of administrative procedures, fire prevention regulations, etc.
With the current challenges, processing enterprises must review production costs and cut unnecessary costs. Simultaneously, enterprises need to focus on developing more value-added products with better profit margins (such as sushi, breaded shrimp, tempura, instant shrimp...), special products such as shrimps raised extensively in the ecological forest system to supply the high-end market segment.
In addition to large markets with low demand, businesses should look to small markets such as in Asia (Hong Kong, Taiwan, Switzerland ...) with better purchasing power.
Compiled by Thuy Linh
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn
