According to Vietnam Customs, in 2013, the country exported its shrimp to 88 markets, earning back US$3.1 billion, up 39.1 percent year-on-year. Shrimp exports in the year made a great contribution to compensate for losses from other seafood exports and boost total seafood exports to exceed the target of US$6.5 billion and hit US$6.72 billion, up 9.6 percent year-on-year. Shrimp sales made up 45 percent of the total seafood exports of the country.
Positive growth in shrimp exports to top 10 leading importers
In 2013, Vietnam’s shrimp sales to leading importing markets (the U.S., Japan, EU, China, Australia, Canada, Taiwan and ASEAN) witnessed a sharp increase over 2012. Exports to the U.S. reported the highest growth of 82.5 percent with US$831 million. Exports to EU touched US$409.4 million, representing an increase of 31.3 percent.
Despite being downgraded to the second position in the top Vietnam shrimp importers, shrimp sales to Japan in 2013 increased by 14.7 percent to US$708.7 million. On January 21st 2014, Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan has officially notified the MRL of Ethoxyquin in Vietnam shrimp imported into the market. The new MRL is fixed at 0.2 ppm against the earlier 0.01 ppm. Besides, Japan decided to lift the regulation of 100 percent Ethoxyquin testing on Vietnam’s shrimp imported into the market. The new decision is expected to improve shrimp exports of Vietnam to the market in 2014.
Vannamei occupied 50 percent of total shrimp exports
In 2013, Vietnam exported US$1.58 billion of whiteleg shrimp, reporting a year-on-year rise of 113 percent and making up 50.7 percent of total shrimp exports while the proportion of exported black tiger shrimp was 42.7 percent with US$1.33 billion, up only 6.3 percent.
Shrimp farmers stocked more whiteleg shrimp in 2013 because of hiking raw shrimp price, high domestic demand and low global supply caused by EMS. Particularly, farmers in the Mekong Delta give priority to rear whiteleg shrimp thanks to its shorter farming period and high productivity and price.
Japan - the 1st largest importer of Vietnam black tiger shrimp
Although Vietnam shrimp exporters faces to Ethoxyquin barriers and strong competition with Indian exporters in Japan market, Vietnam remained to be the largest supplier of black tiger shrimp to the market. In Japan market, Vietnam’s black tiger shrimp is more competitive than that from India thanks to its high quality and reasonable price.
|
Top 10 largest importing markets of Vietnam black tiger shrimp in 2013 |
|||||
|
No. |
Markets |
Value (US$) |
No. |
Markets |
Value (US$) |
|
1 |
Japan |
293,955,881 |
6 |
|
73,227,418 |
|
2 |
China & Hong Kong |
281,311,926 |
7 |
Switzerland |
44,545,931 |
|
3 |
The U.S. |
228,847,006 |
8 |
Germany |
38,636,635 |
|
4 |
|
82,078,873 |
9 |
South Korea |
29,235,460 |
|
5 |
Taiwan |
74,188,668 |
10 |
France |
24,621,337 |
The U.S. ranked the 1st in importing vannamei shrimp from Vietnam
In 2013, the U.S. increased importing shrimp from Vietnam and India because of increase in their whiteleg shrimp production and low vannamei supply from Thailand caused by EMS.
Through October 2013, Vietnam shrimp imports by the U.S. hit 46,522 MT, up 44.8 percent over the same period of 2012 (32,125 MT). While the market sourced 78,104 MT of Indian shrimp from 49,774 MT in the first 10 months of 2012, up 57 percent.
|
Top 10 largest importing markets of Vietnam whiteleg shrimp in 2013 |
|||||
|
No. |
Markets |
Value (US$) |
No. |
Markets |
Value (US$) |
|
1 |
The U.S. |
589,722,692 |
6 |
The U.K |
51,584,535 |
|
2 |
Japan |
322,980,719 |
7 |
|
47,573,414 |
|
3 |
South Korea |
179,924,816 |
8 |
|
38,886,545 |
|
4 |
China & Hong Kong |
87,715,470 |
9 |
Belgium |
31,748,339 |
|
5 |
Germany |
51,849,792 |
10 |
France |
21,963,939 |
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a fairly strong upward trend in 2025, Vietnam’s clam exports entered 2026 with a mixed picture: strong growth at the beginning of the year, followed by a slowdown from March onward. According to Vietnam Customs data, Vietnam’s clam export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached more than USD 38 million, up 2% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius industry is facing new opportunities to expand its development space as many localities and businesses begin promoting marine farming models aimed at diversifying farming areas and adapting to climate change. However, for pangasius to truly “go offshore” and develop into a large-scale industry segment, significant challenges related to technology, broodstock, and markets still need to be addressed.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports in April 2026 reached USD 11 million, up 92% compared to the same period in 2025. This strong growth indicates that Vietnamese tilapia products are continuing to penetrate and expand rapidly in international markets. Cumulative export turnover in the first four months of 2026 reached USD 49 million, up 151% year-on-year.
(seafood.vasep.com) At VietShrimp Asia 2026, disease management trends in shrimp farming are shifting strongly from treatment-based approaches toward proactive prevention through environmental and pond ecosystem control.
(vasep.com.vn) After a period of strong growth, with export turnover reaching USD 38 million in Q1/2026 — up 174% year-on-year — the sector’s rapid expansion clearly reflects growing market opportunities.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the ASEAN bloc reached USD 44 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025. After falling to the lowest level of the quarter at USD 9 million in February — reflecting the seasonal slowdown in orders after the festive period — exports recovered strongly to USD 18 million in March, the highest monthly value of the quarter. This development shows that import demand for pangasius in ASEAN remains relatively stable despite short-term fluctuations.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On May 11, 2026, the US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced a positive comparability finding for Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries, along with those of Indonesia and Sri Lanka, under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA). With this decision, seafood and seafood products harvested from Vietnam’s swimming crab fisheries will continue to be eligible for import into the US market.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a slowdown in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Germany showed more positive signs in the first quarter of 2026. However, the recovery remains uncertain as consumer demand in Germany is still cautious, while market competition is increasingly driven by pricing and supply stability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a sharp decline in 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Israel are showing positive signs of recovery in the early months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover to this market grew steadily month by month in Q1/2026, reaching nearly USD 10 million, up 33% compared to the same period in 2025. However, compared to Q1/2024, this level remains significantly lower, indicating that the recovery is still in its early stage following last year’s strong adjustment.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Entering 2026, the U.S. whitefish market has shown complex developments as global cod supply continues to tighten, while the U.S. trade environment becomes less stable. In this context, the U.S. market has had to become more flexible in sourcing alternative whitefish. However, relying heavily on Alaska pollock is not a long-term solution, as it is a strictly managed fishery with quotas and sustainability regulations, limiting any rapid increase in output to offset cod shortages.
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