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) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
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