In the first five months of this year, whiteleg shrimp accounted for 69.5% of Vietnam's total shrimp exports, black tiger shrimp represented 19.2%, the rest were marine shrimp. The total value of whiteleg shrimp exports rose by 8% while that of black tiger shrimp fell by 16%. Export of processed whiteleg shrimp (HS code 16) and live/fresh/ frozen whiteleg shrimp (HS code 03) lifted by 13% and 5%, respectively. Other processed tiger shrimp exports (HS16) jumped by 18% while exports of live/fresh/frozen black tiger shrimp (HS03) declined by 19%. Dried marine shrimp exports (HS 03) surged the most by 109%. During the time of the Covid-19 epidemic, whiteleg shrimp exports with reasonable prices increased better than black tiger shrimp, processed shrimp products were consumed more than fresh/live/frozen products.
In May 2020, among the top 6 major shrimp importers of Vietnam, shrimp exports to Japan, EU, and South Korea plunged while exports to the US, China, and the UK went up. Japan was still the largest shrimp importer of Vietnam, accounting for 19.2%. In May 2020, shrimp exports to Japan declined by 19.5%; however, thanks to growth in the previous months, shrimp exports to this market in the first 5 months reached US$ 225.6 million, up 3.2% compared with the same period in 2019. Shrimp exports to the EU in May slumped by 5%, but exports to two single markets in the bloc, the Netherlands and Germany, grew well by 18.5% and 14.5% respectively. In the first five months, export to the EU reached US$162.2 million, down by 7% year on year.
Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US recorded good growth in May 2020 with US$65.8 million, up 29.5% compared to May 2019. In the first 5 months of 2020, shrimp exports to the US reached US$ 224.5 million, up 20.4% over the same period in 2019. Despite the Covid-19 epidemic, Vietnam's shrimp exports to the US grew steadily in the first five months of 2020.
In the US market, in the first 5 months of this year, Vietnam shrimp has a competitive advantage over competitors' supply thanks to stable production right after COVID-19 while other suppliers such as India and Ecuador were still suffering badly. Shrimp processors and exporters of India and Ecuador were affected not only by reduced orders but also by domestic production stalled by lockdown measures, lack of workers in factories...
US shrimp imports in the first months of this year remained stable to meet the needs of the retail segment. Shrimp retail sales increased sharply, meeting the demand of American consumers in the epidemic season. In April 2020, the US imported 51,733 MT of shrimp, worth US$ 439.4 million, up 6% in volume and 9% in value over the same period in 2019. The average import price in April 2020 reached US$8.49/kg, an increase of 3% compared to April 2019. In April 2020, shrimp imports into the US from India and Indonesia still went up while imports from Ecuador, Thailand, and China plummeted. Therefore, the demand for US shrimp imports from Vietnam will not decrease to offset the reduced supply from the other suppliers.
After falling in the first 3 months, Vietnamese shrimp exports to China recovered again in April and May. Shrimp exports to China in May 2020 reached US$ 60.3 million, up 3.9% compared to the same period in 2019. In the first five months of 2019, shrimp export to this market reached over 169 million USD, down by 9.5% year on year.
Vietnam's shrimp prices are expected to be good at the beginning of the third quarter of this year because inventories in major markets such as Japan, the US, and the EU are not as high as previous months. The supply of raw materials in China is forecast to decrease due to the influence of the DIV1 virus. In India, the lockdown measures lasted until May, causing farmers to hesitate to stock, disturbing the supply chain. The Covid-19 epidemic also affected the supply of raw shrimp in Ecuador, Indonesia, and Thailand. In Vietnam, shrimp farmers are still actively raising so enterprises can be assured about the raw materials. Vietnam's shrimp exports are expected to increase in the coming months.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain increased by 13% compared to 2024. This growth trend has continued into the first two months of 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover to this market reached nearly USD 3 million in January–February 2026, up 101% year-on-year and significantly higher than the same period in 2024. This development indicates that Spain is once again becoming a notable destination for Vietnamese tuna amid strong demand for tuna raw materials and products in Europe.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The 2026 brackish water shrimp farming season in the Mekong Delta has started earlier than usual, mainly driven by positive market signals, as shrimp prices in 2025 remained high and supply was limited. Many enterprises and farms in Cần Thơ, Cà Mau, and Vĩnh Long have proactively stocked early to seize opportunities. By early 2026, stocking areas in many localities had reached a high proportion of planned targets, with intensive and high-tech farming models expanding rapidly.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports to the United States recorded remarkable growth in 2025, opening up major opportunities while also presenting considerable challenges. The U.S. remains the largest importer of Vietnamese tilapia fillets, with export turnover reaching USD 40 million—an increase of up to 499% compared to 2024. This impressive growth reflects strong demand in the U.S. market, as supply from competing countries such as China has been constrained by tariffs and rising production costs.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Pangasius remains a strategic export commodity in Vietnam’s seafood sector. Entering 2026, the industry faces a strong need to transition from volume-based growth to a value-driven development model, with a focus on quality, food safety, and sustainability.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Following damage caused by Storm No. 13 in late 2025, brackish water shrimp farming in Gia Lai is being rapidly restored. In key farming areas such as Tuy Phước and Tuy Phước Đông, farmers are focusing on rehabilitating ponds, repairing infrastructure, and treating the environment in preparation for the 2026 crop.
(seafood.vasep.com) Facing the decline in fishery resources, Vietnam is accelerating livelihood transitions for fishermen to reduce fishing pressure and move toward sustainable development. Marine fish stocks have dropped significantly from 4.82 million tons in 2000–2005 to 3.95 million tons in 2016–2020.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp industry is entering a period of strong transformation with the emergence of various high-tech farming models, helping improve productivity and competitiveness. Over the past 5–10 years, farming practices have shifted from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive systems, featuring lined ponds, environmental sensors, automated feeding, and data management.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With a focus on sustainable development, high-tech application, and climate change adaptation, An Giang Province aims to maintain its brackish water shrimp production in 2026 at a level equivalent to the previous year. Specifically, output is projected to reach over 155,510 tons, serving both domestic consumption and export processing, thereby sustaining the fisheries sector’s key role in the local economic structure.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the Mekong Delta, key pangasius farming provinces such as An Giang, Dong Thap, and Can Tho are accelerating the transition toward a circular economy model, contributing to higher product value and reduced environmental impact. Instead of focusing solely on farming and processing, the pangasius value chain is increasingly utilizing by-products and waste streams to generate added value.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s scallop exports are entering a phase of impressive growth, as the global market undergoes significant restructuring. In 2025, scallop export value reached nearly USD 66 million, up 49% from USD 44 million in 2024. This upward momentum has continued and accelerated into early 2026, with exports totaling USD 18.1 million in the first two months alone—an increase of 166% year-on-year. This represents an exceptionally high growth rate, reflecting the rapid expansion of a relatively new product segment within Vietnam’s mollusk export portfolio.
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