Vietnam shrimp exports to China fell incredibly in 2018 and in the first months of 2019 due to a sharp increase in Chinese shrimp imports from India, Ecuador (those countries had lower price than Vietnam shrimp). In the first quarter of 2019, Chinese shrimp imports from India went up by 624% in volume and 573% in value over the same period in 2018. In the first half of 2019, Ecuadorian shrimp exports to China increased by 224% in volume and 185% in value compared to the same period in 2018.
There were some of causes that made the decline in shrimp exports to China in recent time. Chinese Customs has been tightening trade in agricultural and aquatic products through border trade. Besides, Vietnamese shrimp had to compete firecely with Indian and Ecuadorian shrimp.
China was the 4th largest shrimp importer in the world, accounting for 6.9% of the total shrimp imports all over the world in 2018. Demand of shrimp imports for domestic consumption and re-export of China was still stable. Shrimp is always the most concerned product in seafood expo in China.
Vietnam ranked 6th among the main shrimp suppliers to China, accounting for 5.7%. In terms of import prices, on the Chinese market, shrimp import prices from Ecuador, India and Indonesia were always the most competitive. The average import prices from Thailand were the highest, while the price of Vietnamese shrimp ranked second in the Chinese market. Vietnamese shrimp must compete in prices with Asian suppliers in this market.
According to the International Trade Center (ITC), China's shrimp imports in the first 5 months of this year reached US$1.4 billion, up by 196% year on year. Ecuador was the largest shrimp supplier to China; India and Thailand ranked second and third respectively. Shrimp imports into China from the top 5 suppliers all grew well compared to the same period in 2018.
Vietnamese shrimp exports to China has shown signs of increasing in May and June. The export value of the whole year to this market is likely equivalent to 2018.
businesses need to pay attention to new requirements on quality, traceability as well as regulations, standards on packaging, goods labeling and regional bar codes for sustainable exports as well as enhance value added.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Although Germany’s tuna imports have declined, Vietnam’s tuna exports to the market continue to show positive signs. Notably, export value recovered strongly in Q3/2026, and German import data also show Vietnamese products strengthening their position amid competition among suppliers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Seafood exports are holding double-digit growth, but the opportunities are not spread evenly across product groups and markets. As businesses draw up their plans for 2027, Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS2026) offers a chance to look ahead together: what to sell, where to sell it, and how to prepare for growth in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With less than two weeks to go, the Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026) will officially take place in Can Tho. Under the theme “Seafood Market Outlook 2027–2029 – Opportunities and Potential for Double-Digit Export Growth,” the Summit is organized by VASEP at a time when seafood businesses are facing rapid market shifts, changing buyer demand, trade policy changes and growing competitive pressure all at once.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On October 28, 2026, the China Fisheries & Seafood Expo opened in Qingdao, China. The expo takes place over three days from October 28 to 30, 2026. This is a prestigious specialized seafood exhibition organized annually by Sea Fare Exposition Inc.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first nine months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the CPTPP bloc reached $7 million, marking a 51% year-on-year increase. The bloc rstands as the fourth-largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, trailing Brazil, the US, and Saudi Arabia.
(vasep.com.vn) VASEP has officially announced the program for Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026 (VSS 2026), featuring five in-depth sessions covering industry outlooks, trade barriers, buyer demand, the domestic market, and solutions to improve productivity and reduce costs across the seafood value chain.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.7 billion in the first nine months of 2026, up 11% year on year. Although growth has been supported by China and several markets within the CPTPP, momentum is slowing as exports to the United States and the European Union decline. Tariff pressures, international competition, and raw material challenges are creating significant hurdles for exporters in the final months of the year.
(vasep.com.vn) Markets are changing faster, buyer requirements are becoming more demanding, and trade barriers are growing increasingly complex. In this environment, seafood businesses need more than an understanding of current market conditions. They need a longer-term perspective to answer a critical question: Where will growth opportunities come from in 2027–2029, and what should businesses do now to prepare? This is one of the key reasons why VASEP is organizing Vietnam Seafood Summit 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East reached US$113 million, up 7% year on year from the same period in 2025. Growth has become more pronounced in recent months. In August alone, exports to the region totaled US$20 million, an increase of 24%. This indicates that demand for Vietnamese pangasius in the Middle East is gradually recovering after a slowdown in March, although the pace of recovery varies across markets.
(vasep.com.vn) China’s shrimp imports continued to grow strongly in 2026, while Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market also recorded notable growth. However, behind these positive figures lie two distinct trends: Chinese consumption is growing more slowly than imports, and lobster accounts for a substantial share of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China, making its product mix significantly different from those of Ecuador and India. Exporters therefore need to assess each segment carefully to understand the opportunities and risks.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
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