In August 2020, excluding exports to Japan and China fell, Vietnam's shrimp exports to other major markets hiked such as the US (+ 28.6%), EU (+ 15.7%), South Korea (10.2%), UK (+ 16.4%), Canada (+ 17.2%), Australia (+ 20.5%). Notably, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU in August 2020 achieved the highest growth rate since the beginning of this year thanks to the positive impact from the EVFTA Agreement.
In the first eight months of 2020, whiteleg shrimp accounted for 71.7% of Vietnam's total shrimp exports, black tiger shrimp accounted for 16.5%, and the rest was marine shrimp. The total value of whiteleg shrimp exports rose by 12.6% while that of black tiger shrimp declined by 15.2%. Export of processed whiteleg shrimp (HS code 16) and live/fresh/frozen whiteleg shrimp (HS code 03) increased by 22.2% and 5.2%, respectively. Export of other processed tiger shrimp (HS16) increased 32.7% while that of live/fresh/frozen tiger shrimp (HS03) shrunk by 19.2%. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the export price of whiteleg shrimp increased better than that of black tiger shrimp, and processed shrimp products were consumed more than fresh/live/frozen products.
The US: The US was the leading market for importing Vietnamese shrimp, accounting for nearly 23.6%. Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US in August 2020 grew well by 28.6% compared to August 2019. Accumulated in the first 8 months of 2020, shrimp exports to this market reached over US$544 million, up 32% over the same period in 2019. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US remained positive in all the months of the first 8 months of 2020. The US is considered the market with the most stable demand for importing Vietnamese shrimp in the first 8 months of 2020.
EU: The EU was Vietnam's fourth-largest shrimp importer after the US, Japan, and China, accounting for 13.6% of Vietnam's total shrimp export value. Vietnam shrimp exports to the EU fell continuously from March to June 2020. After a slight growth in July, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU recorded a growth of 15.7%, reaching US$58.8 million in August. In August 2020, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the Netherlands and Belgium went up by 15% and 41%, respectively compared to August 2019. In the first eight months of 2020, shrimp exports to the EU reached $ 313.7 million, down 2% from the same period in 2019. The EVFTA Agreement, which took effect from the beginning of August 2020, has brought a lot of expectations for Vietnam's shrimp exports to the EU market in the last months of the year.
Vietnam shrimp exports to the EU from now to the end of the year are expected to continue to increase although the growth rate is not high due to the impact from the Covid-19 pandemic. Thanks to the tax advantage of Vietnamese shrimp being better than its competitors, EU importers also look for more sources from Vietnam. Deeply processed, packaged, ready-to-eat items for home consumption are still popular.
With positive signals in Vietnam's shrimp exports in the first 8 months of this year. Vietnam shrimp exports are expected to continue to grow in the coming months. For the whole year 2020, Vietnam's shrimp export is expected to reach US$3.6 billion, up 8% compared to 2019.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in February 2026 reached approximately USD 707 million, up 8% compared to the same period last year. Cumulatively, exports in the first two months of 2026 totaled USD 1.7 billion, an increase of 20.2% year-on-year. The results show that the sector’s recovery momentum has remained relatively solid following strong growth in January, although the pace slowed noticeably in February for several key products and major markets. Within the overall picture, shrimp continues to be the largest pillar, pangasius rebounds strongly, while tuna exports and the U.S. and Korean markets are sending signals that warrant closer monitoring. In March, seafood exports are expected to gain additional momentum from markets other than the U.S., potentially supporting stronger growth.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, fishing activities in Quang Tri province recorded many positive signals, with output reaching over 15,941 tons. This result not only demonstrates fishermen’s efforts to stay offshore but also reflects the effectiveness of management and support measures implemented by local authorities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first months of 2026, IUU prevention models focused on communication and mobilizing fishermen to comply with fisheries laws and avoid encroaching on foreign waters—related to combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing—have been implemented in coastal localities of Lam Dong province and have delivered initial positive results.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The sharp rise in raw pangasius prices to record levels is sending positive signals for the industry, but experts warn of potential supply–demand imbalances if production is not tightly controlled.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) According to statistics from Vietnam Customs, the country’s total canned tuna export value in 2025 reached over USD 275 million, down 8% compared to 2024. Vietnamese canned tuna products were present in approximately 80 markets worldwide. However, the 2025 picture shows clear divergence: the U.S. maintained stability, the EU declined sharply, while several Middle East–North Africa (MENA) markets accelerated.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s crab exports reached nearly USD 86 million, up almost 6% compared to 2024. A notable feature of 2025 was the strong market concentration in the United States, which accounted for more than 81% of Vietnam’s total crab export value, up 10% from the previous year. In contrast, exports to several Asian markets declined significantly, resulting in only modest overall growth for the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tilapia exports recorded impressive growth, with total export turnover reaching over USD 99 million, highlighting the increasingly important role of this product in the country’s seafood export structure. Of this total, tilapia fillets and other fish meat products accounted for USD 61 million, representing 61% of total export value and reaffirming their position as the key product category.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp seed quality is considered the “first link” and a decisive factor affecting the efficiency of the entire commercial shrimp production chain. High-quality seed directly influences survival rates, growth performance, and disease resistance, thereby determining production costs, productivity, and farmers’ profitability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As part of its agricultural restructuring strategy toward sustainability, Quang Tri Province is gradually promoting environmentally friendly aquaculture models. Among these, organic-oriented golden pompano farming is considered a promising direction, aligned with the goals of enhancing production value and building sustainable rural areas.
(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.
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