In the first quarter of 2020, China was hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic. In the second quarter of 2020, the epidemic has been better controlled. Supply chain disruptions have been overcome, the demand for seafood including shrimp was also better.
China was the largest black tiger shrimp importer of Vietnam. In the first 6 months of 2020, in the structure of shrimp products exported to China, black tiger shrimp accounted for 32.7%, whiteleg shrimp accounted for 39.1%, and the rest was marine shrimp. Export of whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp to China in the first half of 2020 slumped, only export of marine shrimp soared by 137%, especially dried marine shrimp surged by 1,812%.
According to data from China Customs, in the first 6 months of 2020, China imported 339,000 MT of frozen warm-water shrimp, worth $ 1.98 billion. China's imports of frozen warm water shrimp in June 2020 jumped by 36% compared to May 2020 to 75,000 MT, the highest level since December 2019. The import value of frozen warm-water shrimp reached US$420 million, up 34% compared to May.
Ecuador, the largest supplier of shrimp to China (accounting for 2/3 of China's shrimp imports in June), exports to China 50,000 MT of shrimp, an increase of 72% compared to May. India, the second-largest supplier of China, supplying 14,500 MT of shrimp to China in June, equivalent to the export volume in May. Thailand, Vietnam, and Argentina were the next major shrimp suppliers to China, each country supplying about 2,400 - 2,500 MT.
At the beginning of July 2020, Ecuador had many difficulties in shrimp exports to China as 3 major shrimp companies of this country were banned from exporting to China due to the detection of coronavirus on product packaging. Also in early July, some batches of shrimp exported from India to China were delayed customs clearance, plus tensions at the borderline between India and China. It is expected that shrimp exports from China's two largest shrimp suppliers, Ecuador and India, will decrease in the third quarter of 2020. It is forecast that Vietnam's shrimp exports to China will continue to increase in the third quarter of 2020, to offset the supply reduction from Ecuador and India.
China's domestic shrimp production this year is expected to decline due to disease on shrimp, China's cold-water shrimp imports also tend to decrease, China's economic growth in the second quarter of this year has been better and is forecasted not to decrease in the whole year. Therefore, China's demand for shrimp imports is not expected to decrease. It is expected that Vietnam's shrimp exports to China will increase by about 7% in 2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Lobster exports to China continued to surge in the first half of this year, putting the lobster industry on the verge of reaching an export value exceeding $1 billion.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) More than five years after the UK-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (UKVFTA) took effect, Vietnamese seafood is steadily expanding its market share in the United Kingdom, one of Europe’s major seafood import markets with stable and diverse consumer demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) At Van Hung Commune, Khanh Hoa Province, the Khanh Hoa Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Aquaculture Research Center and the Van Hung Public Service Center, organized a technical training course on the industrial-scale production of disease-free golden pompano (Trachinotus falcatus) seed for local marine fish farmers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports maintained a strong recovery in the first five months of 2026, reaching more than USD 302 million, up 17% compared to the same period in 2025. Growth was primarily driven by Asian markets, including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, and China, while exports to the United States and the European Union continued to face headwinds from cautious consumer demand and increasingly stringent compliance requirements.
Vietnamese seafood giant Minh Phu Group has inaugurated a VND1.5 trillion (US$57.4 million) seafood processing plant in Ca Mau Province.
(vasep.com.vn) From 19–21 August 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition (Vietfish 2026) will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Under the theme "Innovation – Sustainability", Vietfish 2026 continues to serve as Vietnam's flagship annual seafood event, bringing together seafood producers, exporters, importers, buyers, industry experts, government agencies, and stakeholders from across the domestic and global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in May 2026, reaching USD 14 million, up 18% compared with the same month last year. Cumulative export value for the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 62 million, representing a remarkable 101% increase over the same period in 2025, highlighting the sector’s strong recovery in international markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports reached USD 367 million in the first five months of 2026, down 7% compared to the same period in 2025. While the decline is not yet severe, the more concerning issue is that pressure is mounting in key markets such as the United States and the European Union, just as ocean freight rates are rising sharply on long-haul routes. The current situation is therefore not merely about slower orders, but rather a clear restructuring phase for Vietnam’s tuna industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
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