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) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
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