Asian markets drive growth
China and Hong Kong remained the main growth engine, with exports reaching approximately USD 845 million, up 44% year-on-year and accounting for 36% of Vietnam's total shrimp export value. The United States ranked second with nearly USD 809 million, representing 47%.
Exports to Japan, South Korea, and Australia all recorded positive growth. Combined exports to these three markets reached approximately USD 271 million, accounting for 16% of total exports. Exports to the European Union (EU) also posted modest growth of 2%.
Notably, shrimp exports to the United Kingdom increased by 62% in June, reaching USD 32 million. However, cumulative exports to the UK during the first six months totaled around USD 290 million.
June growth largely driven by lobster exports
Whiteleg shrimp remained Vietnam's leading export product, generating nearly USD 1.39 billion in the first half of the year, accounting for 59% of total shrimp exports and increasing 9% year-on-year. Black tiger shrimp exports reached approximately USD 230 million, up 8%.
The strongest growth came from lobster exports, which reached nearly USD 585 million, up 44% and accounting for 25% of total shrimp export value. In June alone, lobster exports reached nearly USD 71 million, an increase of 48%.
This result reflects the increasingly important role of lobster alongside whiteleg and black tiger shrimp. However, future growth is expected to depend largely on the Chinese market. Vietnam's green lobster exports to China continue to face challenges related to broodstock supply, traceability requirements, and import regulations.
Rising logistics costs continue to squeeze profits
Alongside tariff pressures, rising logistics costs remain a major challenge for shrimp production, processing, and exports. Ocean freight rates, container leasing fees, storage charges, insurance costs, and the difficulty of securing vessel space have all increased, while shipping schedules remain unstable.
For the shrimp industry, which relies heavily on cold-chain transportation, rising freight costs continue to erode profit margins, particularly for low-value processed products.
To reduce logistics-related pressures, management agencies, industry associations, and businesses need to strengthen cooperation with shipping lines to secure more competitive freight rates, coordinate loading schedules, ensure container availability, and maintain stable shipping services for seafood exports.
Exporters should also proactively develop more flexible delivery plans, diversify transport options, negotiate more appropriate shipping terms, and increase the proportion of processed, value-added products to improve efficiency and reduce the impact of logistics costs on business performance.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood businesses need solutions to overcome bottlenecks such as labor shortages, difficulty accessing capital, high input costs, and administrative procedures in order to maintain production, adapt to market fluctuations, and effectively exploit export opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The FTA would widen access to markets with strong demand for premium food products in line with the country’s strategy of shifting exports towards increasing added value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the morning of July 13th, Mr. Ho Quoc Dung, Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Deputy Prime Minister, along with his delegation, visited and worked with businesses in An Giang province to promptly resolve obstacles and promote production and business activities.
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