In November 2015, Vietnam and EU officially concluded negotiations on EVFTA Agreement. The FTA was signed on June 30 in Hanoi paving the way for its conclusion and increased trade with the EU and Vietnam.
According to the commitment, after the Agreement comes into effect, Vietnamese goods including shrimp products shall enjoy special preferential tax.
The EU mainly imports frozen raw shrimp and processed shrimp from Vietnam. According to the commitment, as soon as EVFTA comes into effect, import tax on raw shrimp HS code 03061100 (frozen green lobster; frozen HOSO, DP black tiger shrimp; fresh frozen PD shrimp; ice-chilled blue lobster; slipper lobster (whole, frozen, sawn ...) into the EU shall be 0% from the current level of 12.5%, tax on shrimp product HS code 03061710 (frozen PD tiger shrimp, frozen HOSO whole shrimp, tiger shrimp shell on), frozen /fresh tiger shrimp, frozen tiger prawn, frozen fresh HLSO tiger shrimp, IQF giant tiger shrimp, frozen meat shrimp ...) to 0% from the current 20%. Shrimp HS code 03061791, 03061792, 03061793, 03061799 shall reduce tax to 0% from the current 12%. Shrimp HS code 03061794 shall be reduced to 0% from the current 18% after 5 years from the entry into force of the Agreement.
For processed shrimp products, shrimp HS code 16052110 (paste shrimp) from the current 20% shall be adjusted to 0% after 7 years from the entry into force of the Agreement; Shrimp HS code 16052190 (other shrimp) from 20% to 0% after 7 years since the Agreement took effect.
Currently, the GSP tax rate that EU imposes to Vietnam for frozen raw shrimp (HS 030617) is 4.2%; Frozen processed shrimp (HS 160521) is 7%. However, Vietnamese products must meet EU origin standards to enjoy this tax. Vietnam has an advantage over the two rival countries, Thailand and China, because these two countries do not enjoy GSP tax of EU.
The EU accounts for about 30.6% of the total value of shrimp imports worldwide. EU shrimp imports range from US$6- US$8 billion per year.
According to data of the World Trade Center (ITC), in 2018, imports of shrimp into the EU reached more than US$7 billion; rose by 0.5% compared to 2017. Spain and France were the 2 largest shirmp importers of EU. Value of Spain's shrimp imports reached US$1.2 billion, down 2%; France reached 937.6 million, down 1% compared to 2017.
According to the statistics of Vietnam Customs, in the first 4 months of 2019, Vietnam shrimp exports to EU reached nearly US$184 million, down 25.7% year on year.
EU is still the largest shrimp importer of Vietnam, accounting for 21.7% of total shrimp export value of Vietnam to markets.
Shrimp exports to the EU in the first months of 2019 were partly reduced due to the increase in the world supply of shrimps, the decrease in shrimp export prices and the ongoing political and economic disturbances in the EU.
The UK, Germany and the Netherlands are the 3 largest single markets for importing Vietnamese shrimp in the EU. Export value to these 3 markets decreased by 2 digits in the first 4 months of this year.
In the EU market, Vietnam must compete primarily with India and Ecuador. While India tends to reduce shrimp exports to the EU due to quality problems. Ecuador tends to increase shrimp exports to this market after the FTA between Ecuador and EU takes effect.
With EVFTA, Vietnamese enterprises also face challenges of rules of origin and risks of trade defense measures. The shrimp export value of Vietnam to EU fell in the first 4 months of this year. However, with EVFTA that expected to take effect this year and the advantages of tariff that competitors such as India and Thailand are not available, the EU is still considered as a key market of Vietnamese shrimp exports in 2019.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
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(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
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