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) 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.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
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