The US is still Vietnam's second largest shrimp importer after the EU, accounting for 19.6% of Vietnam’s total shrimp export value.
Demand for US shrimp imports from Vietnam was more positive from May to August due to reduced inventories while the US was also reducing imports from India, Thailand and sharply reducing imports from China.
The US was the largest importer for Vietnamese whiteleg shrimp. Regarding the structure of Vietnamese shrimp exports to the US, whiteleg shrimp accounted for the largest proportion at 83.3%, tiger shrimp made up for only 12.6%. In the first 9 months of 2019, exports of live/fresh/frozen whiteleg shrimp to the US increased by 42% over the same period in 2018.
According to the US Department of Agriculture, Vietnamese breaded shrimp exported to the US in the first 8 months of 2019 reached 7,098 MT, worth US $ 50.8 million, up 57% in volume and 52% in value over the same period in 2018.
China, Thailand and Vietnam were the three main suppliers of breaded shrimp to the US, accounting for 31%, 26%, and 25% of the total shrimp import value of the US, respectively. Among three main suppliers, China was subject to a 25% tax, leading to a sharp reduction of 33% in value and 27% in volume compared to the same period in 2018. Breaded shrimp is a product with a high profit rate, so Vietnamese enterprises should continue to promote exports this product to the US.
Shrimp exports to the US expected to increase by about 5% in the last quarter of 2019.
In September 2019, the US imported 63,767 MT of shrimp, worth US$554.9 million, down 1.1% in volume and up 1.6% in value year on year.
In the first 9 months of 2019, shrimp imports into the US reached 494,964 MT, worth US$4.2 billion, compared to 489,639 MT and US$4.4 billion in the same period in 2018.
As of September 2019, the US imported 15,795 MT of shrimp, worth US$ 85.2 million from China, down 56% in volume and 66% in value over the same period in 2018.
Chinese shrimp exports to the US have fell due to the impact of the US-China trade war that made Chinese exporters have been subject to a 25% tax rate since May 2019.
In September 2019, shrimp imports into the US from Ecuador, Thailand, Argentina, Honduras and Panama all declined. Ecuador exported 6,801 MT of shrimp to the US, down 2% year on year. Thailand exported 3,691 MT of shrimp to the US, down 11%.
India was still the largest shrimp supplier to the US. This country exported to the US 198,350 MT of shrimp, valued at US$ 1.6 billion in the first 9 months of 2019, up 13% in volume and 4.5% in value over the same period in 2018.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first quarter of 2026, Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached USD 1.069 billion, up 17.5% compared to the same period in 2025. This is a positive result amid an uneven global shrimp market recovery, intensifying competition among major suppliers, and continued volatility in the international trade environment. However, this growth does not reflect a broad-based recovery across the entire sector, but rather is driven mainly by strong performance in a few markets and specific product segments—most notably lobster exports to China.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports continued to decline in March 2026. Cumulatively, in the first three months of the year, export value reached USD 208 million, down 4% compared to the same period in 2025. The export landscape shows clear divergence across markets: while the U.S. and EU remain challenging, markets such as Russia, the Middle East, Egypt, the Philippines, and Mexico have emerged as growth bright spots.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In Quang Ngai Province, shrimp farming costs are rising sharply due to लगातार increases in feed, fuel, and input material prices, while farm-gate shrimp prices are declining. This has significantly reduced farmers’ profit margins and increased production risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports are experiencing impressive growth, reflecting expanding global demand as well as the sector’s development potential. However, behind the strong growth figures lie limitations in production capacity and supply chains, highlighting the need for sustainable development in the coming period.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s pangasius exports to the Middle East in 2025 and early 2026 have shown notable growth. However, escalating geopolitical tensions in the region have increasingly impacted export activities since March. This situation presents a challenge of balancing market expansion opportunities with rising trade risks.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The Quang Tri Department of Agriculture and Environment has instructed localities to base their stocking schedules on actual conditions in each farming area, while developing plans, allocating resources, and implementing synchronized measures for disease prevention and disaster risk management in aquaculture production.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s exports of fish cakes and surimi exceeded USD 45 million, up 7% compared to the same period in 2025, indicating a positive outlook for this product segment amid recovering demand in many markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the week from April 4th to 10th, 2026, Quang Ngai province intensified its monitoring and law enforcement activities with the determination to eliminate illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Thanh Hoa’s shrimp sector is undergoing a strong transformation by accelerating the adoption of high technology, helping to improve productivity, increase profits, and meet market demands. The province currently has about 4,100 hectares of shrimp farming, with output continuing to rise despite stable farming area, mainly due to the shift from traditional methods to intensive and super-intensive farming.
(vasep.com.vn) Amid ongoing volatility in global seafood trade, Vietnam’s crab exports have made a fairly positive start to 2026. According to Vietnam Customs statistics, export turnover in the first two months of 2026 reached nearly USD 55 million, up 24% compared to the same period in 2025 and more than 2.2 times higher than in the same period of 2024. This indicates that crab exports are entering 2026 with stronger growth momentum, particularly in Asian markets.
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