As the main supplying countries continuously cut their quotas which results in a drop in production, the price of cold-water shrimp is increasing. Sales of warmwater shrimp in British supermarkets and retail channels continued to increase while sales of coldwater shrimp decreased. The value and volume of warm water shrimp products sold in the UK for household consumption has increased continuously over the past 3 years. Shrimp sales in 52 weeks ended on October 6, 2018, reaching 31.418 MTs, worth £446.4 million (equivalent to US$571.6 million).
The UK is the third largest importer of shrimp products in the EU after Spain and France. Unlike Spain (importing medium-sized shrimp for domestic consumption and export processing to intra-regional countries), the UK imports mainly shrimp for domestic consumption. In the last 4 years, the UK has been a considerable market of many Vietnamese shrimp exporting enterprises.
In the EU, the UK is the largest shrimp import market of Vietnam, accounting for nearly 36% of total shrimp exports of Vietnam to the EU and accounting for 6.8% of total Vietnam shrimp exports to all markets. In 2017, Vietnam shrimp export to the UK reached US$210.6 million, increasing by 55.5% compared to 2016. Accumulated to November 15, 2018, Vietnam shrimp export to the UK reached US$212.1 million, up by 16.4% over the same period last year.
From 2014 till now, the UK has always been in the top 2 positions in Vietnamese shrimp import markets. From 2014 to 2017, Vietnam shrimp exports to the UK continued to grow from US$114.6 million in 2014 to US$210.6 million in 2017, an increase of nearly 84%. As of November 15 this year, exporting Vietnam shrimp to the UK has reached US$212.1 million, higher than the export value of Vietnam shrimp to the UK in the whole year of 2017 (US$212.1 million).
Vietnam is the largest shrimp supply for the UK, accounting for 26.3% of total value of British shrimp imports, followed by India with 15.5%.
The UK is a remarkable market of Vietnamese shrimp exporters in the EU because exporting enterprises to this market are entitled to GSP tax incentives, similar to the general provisions in exporting to the EU. Processed shrimp products originating from Vietnam in the UK market have a higher advantage in price and quality compared to those of India and Bangladesh.
Because the UK is a highly competitive market from rival suppliers, businesses need to understand the market to make products suitable to consumers' tastes here. In order to succeed in the UK market, businesses need to provide products with good prices with consistent supplies and the ability to improve product development to keep up the tastes of people.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2026 marks a period of strong growth for Vietnam’s tilapia industry, but it is also a time when international export competition is becoming increasingly intense. Vietnam’s tilapia exports reached USD 99 million in 2025, up 140% compared to the previous year. In the first four months of 2026 alone, export value reached USD 49 million, a 151% increase year-on-year. As global demand for affordable whitefish continues to rise, Vietnam is emerging as a noteworthy competitor to traditional tilapia powerhouses such as China, Indonesia, Brazil, and Egypt.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) With continued policy support, technological innovation and close coordination among authorities, businesses and farmers, Vietnam’s pangasius industry is expected to make a strong and sustainable breakthrough during the 2026–2030 period, reinforcing its position as the world’s leading exporter of the fish.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) During the first four months of 2026, Vietnam’s tilapia exports to Asian markets showed varying trends across regions and countries. The Middle East recorded strong growth, with Saudi Arabia emerging as the largest Asian market for Vietnamese tilapia. ASEAN markets also expanded significantly, driven primarily by Malaysia. Meanwhile, Japan maintained solid growth, while exports to South Korea declined compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Shrimp and pangasius continued to lead growth, helping seafood exports reach $4.67 billion in the first five months of the year; however, differentiation among product groups and increasingly stringent requirements from importing markets are posing many challenges for the industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Every day, the seafood processing industry in Ca Mau generates large quantities of shrimp heads and shells during processing operations. In the past, these by-products were largely treated as waste, increasing production costs and posing potential environmental risks. However, thanks to advanced processing technologies, materials once considered waste are now being transformed into high-value products, creating a circular economy model within the seafood industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam Clean Seafood Corporation has invested in a 280-hectare super-intensive shrimp farming zone in Tran De Commune, Can Tho City, generating export value of approximately VND 3 billion per hectare per year—around 50 times higher than traditional agricultural production.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.02 billion in May 2026, up 0.6% year-on-year. Cumulative exports in the first five months of 2026 totaled USD 4.67 billion, an increase of 11% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In a rapidly changing global seafood market, timely insights and reliable data are more critical than ever. The Report on Vietnam Seafood Exports in Q1/2026 provides a comprehensive overview of the latest developments in Vietnam’s seafood production, trade performance, and export trends, helping businesses navigate uncertainty and identify new growth opportunities.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) While many major markets continue to experience slow growth, Russia has emerged as a brighter destination for Vietnamese tuna exports in early 2026. Export turnover to this market increased by nearly 55% in the first four months of the year, indicating a clear improvement in demand. Nevertheless, Russia remains a market that should be viewed with both optimism and caution.
(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.
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