International shrimp price has remained high in recent years, which significantly affected shrimp import demand in Japan. As JPY depreciated against the dollar, Japanese market lost its attractiveness to shrimp suppliers, and Vietnam is not an exception.
Statistics from General Customs showed that and in 2014, shrimp exports to Japan increased by only 4.9% year on year. This growth rate is much smaller than the increase in shrimp exports to the US and the EU, which are 28% and 66.7%, respectively. However, Japan is still the 2nd largest consumption market for shrimp from Vietnam.
Since mid-March 2014, Japan’s oxytetracycline (OTC) inspection was carried out on all shrimp imported from Vietnam. OTC residue is permitted at 0.2 ppm. Though shrimp exports to Japan increased sharply by 33%, a reversed trend was witnessed with negative growth of nearly 15% in April. This declining trend lasted until July and from August, shrimp exports to Japan found the recovery.
In 2014, Japan was the only market for shrimp from Vietnam that decreased both in terms of volume and value. Argentina was the most notable shrimp source for Japan in 2014. Japan’s shrimp imports from Argentina in the first 10 months of 2014 rose by 16% in volume and by 42.7% in value. Along with shrimp imports from Vietnam, imports of Thailand and Indonesia fell.
|
Shrimp imports into Japan – Unit: MT (Source: ITC) |
|||
|
Origin |
Jan-Oct 2013 |
Jan-Oct 2014 |
Change 2014/2013 (%) |
|
World |
212,049,383 |
178,418,490 |
-16 |
|
Vietnam |
43,765,075 |
40,784,452 |
-7 |
|
Thailand |
49,422,147 |
29,394,985 |
-41 |
|
Indonesia |
31,893,823 |
25,629,725 |
-20 |
|
India |
25,689,870 |
25,548,016 |
-1 |
|
China |
18,493,192 |
15,474,238 |
-16 |
|
Argentina |
8,918,654 |
10,381,698 |
16 |
|
Russian Federation |
5,237,731 |
5,654,635 |
8 |
|
Canada |
4,329,396 |
4,860,161 |
12 |
|
Myanmar |
5,023,473 |
4,787,566 |
-5 |
|
Malaysia |
4,201,823 |
2,938,190 |
-30 |
|
Shrimp imports into Japan – Unit: US$ thousands (Source: ITC) |
|||
|
Origin |
Jan-Oct2013 |
Jan-Oct 2014 |
Change2014/2013(%) |
|
World |
2,330,335 |
2,223,221 |
-4.6 |
|
Vietnam |
512,911 |
561,893 |
9.5 |
|
India |
263,286 |
299,170 |
13.6 |
|
Indonesia |
374,398 |
338,700 |
-9.5 |
|
Thailand |
515,785 |
360,695 |
-30.1 |
|
China |
172,350 |
156,953 |
-8.9 |
|
Argentina |
74,410 |
106,177 |
42.7 |
|
Russian Federation |
77,176 |
79,911 |
3.5 |
|
Canada |
65,118 |
66,604 |
2.3 |
|
Myanmar |
51,306 |
54,736 |
6.7 |
|
Greenland |
37,926 |
33,535 |
-11.6 |
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Market fluctuations, rising production costs, and increasingly stringent requirements from export markets are placing growing pressure on the shrimp industry. In response, Vinh Long Province is promoting high-tech shrimp farming integrated with production–consumption value chains to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and enhance the industry's value.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam's tilapia exports to Japan posted strong growth in the first half of 2026, while a promising new trend has emerged in the value-added product segment. Notably, Vietnamese tilapia fillets have been exported to Japan for use in sushi and sashimi, creating new opportunities to enhance the value of the industry in one of the world's most demanding seafood markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) After a relatively sluggish first quarter, Vietnam's exports of fish cakes and surimi showed a clearer recovery in the second quarter, particularly in June. Export value in the first six months of 2026 reached USD 148 million, down 2% year on year. However, the newly imposed 12.5% additional U.S. tariff on Vietnamese goods, intensifying competition in Northeast Asia, and increasingly stringent traceability requirements in the EU are making the outlook for the second half of the year more uncertain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In June 2026, Vietnam's shrimp exports reached nearly USD 458 million, up 24% year-on-year. In the first six months of 2026, export value totaled USD 2.35 billion, an increase of 14.2% compared with the same period last year. Growth was driven mainly by the Chinese market and the strong performance of lobster exports, while shrimp exports continued to face pressure from U.S. tariffs and rising logistics costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program is designed as a specialized B2B matchmaking initiative for selected international buyers, providing opportunities to meet directly with Vietnamese seafood exporters, gain the latest market insights, and experience Vietnam's seafood supply chain firsthand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) A project titled "Sustainable Shrimp Industry Governance" has been launched in Ca Mau Province with the aim of supporting the transition of the province's shrimp industry toward higher quality, lower emissions, stronger governance capacity, improved supply chain traceability, and the development of a sustainable shrimp brand that meets the increasingly stringent requirements of export markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Khanh Hoa Provincial Agricultural Extension Center, in collaboration with the Northern Center for Marine Aquaculture Research and the Van Hung Public Service Center, recently organized a training course on disease-free golden pompano seed production. The program is part of a National Agricultural Extension Project aimed at developing industrial-scale seed production models to support sustainable marine aquaculture.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports have shown encouraging signs of recovery in 2026. In the first four months of the year, total export turnover reached USD 720 million, up 17% compared to the same period last year. This result reflects improving demand across many markets, as well as the efforts of Vietnamese pangasius enterprises to maintain production, secure orders, and adapt to changing market conditions.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The application of high technology in shrimp farming is delivering positive results in the coastal areas of Vinh Long Province, contributing to improved production efficiency and creating significant potential for further industry expansion. However, to fully capitalize on this potential, the province is focusing on aquaculture zoning, infrastructure investment, and promoting modern, sustainable production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Đồng Tháp Province has intensified efforts to curb illegal fishing by strengthening vessel monitoring, law enforcement and seafood traceability.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn