In the three months of June - August, shrimp exports to China & HK had a positive growth. After QII, demand for shrimp imports from the Chinese market increased because the market stabilized after Covid-19 prevention restrictions. In QI/2023, Ecuador’s exports to China increased sharply, therefore, supply from Ecuador to China decreased in the period after QII. As a result, China increased imports from Vietnam.
In September 2023, Vietnam's shrimp exports to China reversed and decreased by 13%. After the long holiday period including the Mid-Autumn Festival and National Day in China, shrimp demand declined sharply. China had a high inventory due to importing a lot of shrimp from Ecuador previously. Companies hold inventory and do not want to reduce prices to release stock. The nuclear wastewater discharge event from Japan is also said to have an impact on seafood consumption demand in general, including shrimp in the Chinese market.
Regarding the structure of export products, whiteleg shrimp accounted for 53.2%, black tiger shrimp accounted for 22.7%, and the rest were other shrimp. In QIII/2023, exports of whiteleg shrimp and black tiger shrimp to China & HK increased by 14% and 22% respectively compared to the same period in 2022. Exports of live/fresh/frozen black tiger shrimp had the strongest increase of 22%, exports of frozen raw whiteleg shrimp and processed whiteleg shrimp increased by 14% and 16%, respectively. For other shrimp, exports of other dried shrimp increased sharply by 3 digits, at 661%.
In QIII/2023, the average price of frozen whiteleg shrimp exported to China ranged from 4,9 - 7,9 USD/kg. While the average price of frozen black tiger shrimp ranged from 8,2-13,8 USD/kg.
The purchasing price of Chinese importers is low because many suppliers are targeting this market. However, China is still an important market for Vietnamese shrimp, especially in the context of China’s ban on seafood imports from Japan. According to China Customs, accumulated in the first 8 months of the year, China's shrimp imports reached 675.556 tons, worth 3,74 billion USD, up 29% in volume and 10% in value compared to the same period last year.
Regarding volume, Ecuador continued to be the top supplier to China, accounting for 72% of China's total imports, followed by India with 13% and Argentina with 3%. The remaining 12% come from countries such as Thailand and Saudi Arabia. Experts predicted that China's shrimp imports this year could reach approximately 1 million tons.
After the ban on seafood imports from Japan, many foreign suppliers expected new opportunities in China. However, Chinese businesses are also looking for alternative products from domestic supply.
China's shrimp market consists of two separate segments. One is for live shrimp, mainly consumed at public markets in China. The other is frozen HOSO and value-added shrimp, consumed through distributors, food services, retail supermarkets and e-commerce channels.
According to experts, both imported shrimp and domestic shrimp have the opportunity in both market segments as long as the Chinese economy recovers stably, and consumers have the financial capacity.
The Chinese government is stimulating shrimp consumption in tier 2 and tier 3 cities, creating opportunities for domestic fresh RAS shrimp to attract more customers. Chinese consumers love fresh shrimp, and they are willing to pay higher prices for this product. Experts advise foreign suppliers to develop the frozen HOSO and value-added shrimp markets instead of competing with Chinese domestic shrimp in the fresh product segment.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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