Canada mainly shrimp products from Vietnam such as frozen PTO fresh black tiger shrimp; frozen HLSO EZP fresh whiteleg shrimp; frozen whiteleg shrimp (peeled, head off, tail on); frozen fresh Nobashi headless prawns; Fresh black tiger shrimp (head off, shell on, tail on); frozen HLSO headless fresh prawn, frozen whole black tiger shrimp; frozen prawns head on; frozen breaded whiteleg shrimp; frozen whiteleg shrimp (head off, tail on, marinated); Frozen steamed whiteleg shrimp PTO.
In terms of geographic location, Canada is adjacent to the US. The country has a high income per capita. Moreover, Canada is enjoying tax incentives from CPTPP, so there are many opportunities for Vietnamese shrimp exports to this market.
According to the International Trade Center (ITC), Canada ranked 13th in shrimp imports in the world, accounting for about 2% of the total world shrimp import value. In the first six months of 2020, Canada's shrimp imports reached nearly US$ 213 million, up 0.5% year on year.
Vietnam is the largest shrimp supplier to Canada, accounting for 34% of Canada's total shrimp imports. From 2014 up to now, Vietnam has maintained its leading position in supplying shrimp to Canada. India ranks second in supplying shrimp to Canada, accounting for 28%. It is followed by China, Thailand, and Indonesia representing 13%, 7%, and 4% respectively. In the Canadian market, the shares of Vietnam and India have been increasing while the shares of Thailand has been decreasing.
According to ITC data, in the first 6 months of 2020, among the top 5 main suppliers, shrimp imports into Canada from Vietnam and India increased while imports from China, Thailand and Indonesia shrunk. In which, shrimp imports from Vietnam jumped the most by nearly 20%, reaching US$ 73.2 million; Imports from India rose by nearly 3% to nearly US$ 60 million. Shrimp imports from Thailand to Canada recorded the strongest drop of 33% in the first 6 months of 2020.
Frozen raw shrimp (HS 030617) and processed shrimp (HS 160521) are the two most imported products into Canada. In the first 6 months of 2020, shrimp HS code 030617 imported into Canada reached over US$ 152 million, up 5% over the same period in 2019. Shrimp imports HS code 160521 plunged by 13% to over US$ 51 million. Imports of frozen shrimp (HS 030616) into Canada dipped by 20% compared to the same period in 2019.
The Government of Canada requires of diversifying markets, reducing dependence on imports from the US. Vietnam is one of the countries that Canadian businesses are interested in promoting import and export activities. Canada can afford to pay for high-value products. This is an important bridge for Vietnamese businesses to expand their markets to other American countries.
Canada has been consuming more and more warm water shrimp from Southeast Asian countries in the context of the decline in cold water shrimp supplies. According to a recent survey, shrimp accounts for 50% of the total seafood products imported into Canada, and the tendency of households to buy shrimp for home processing has been increasing. In the first months of 2020, Canada was also one of the countries affected by the Covid-19 epidemic with more than 147 thousand cases and more than 8 thousand fatalities. The trend of buying processed shrimp for home-consumption is also quite popular in Canada.
(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.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) – On March 19, at the Government Headquarters, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held a meeting with the European Commission (EC) inspection delegation on combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, led by Mr. Fernando Andresen Guimaraes, Head of Unit at the Directorate-General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE).
(vasep.com.vn) Australia is emerging as one of the most stable and promising growth markets for Vietnamese shrimp. Amid global trade disruptions driven by geopolitical tensions—particularly conflicts in the Middle East—strengthening and expanding into stable markets like Australia has become increasingly important for Vietnam’s shrimp industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s squid and octopus exports reached over USD 111 million, up 23% compared to the same period in 2025. This result indicates a positive start for the sector, reflecting early signs of demand recovery in multiple markets from the beginning of the year.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In the first two months of 2026, Vietnam’s fisheries sector maintained positive growth momentum, with shrimp output exceeding 132 thousand tons. This result contributed to a strong increase in seafood export turnover, despite ongoing volatility in the global economy.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports maintained strong growth momentum in February 2026, with many markets recording sharp increases compared to the same period last year. In February alone, export value reached USD 8.4 million, up 148% year-on-year. Cumulatively, in the first two months of 2026, total tilapia export turnover hit USD 23 million, soaring 242% compared to the same period in 2025.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In global seafood trade, sensory evaluation is increasingly becoming one of the key “technical barriers” in many importing markets-especially the United States. Issues such as filth, and signs of decomposition/spoilage are often detected through sensory evaluation methods and remain common reasons for seafood import alerts, detentions, or shipment rejections.
Shrimp has been the most important export product of Vietnam’s seafood industry for many years, typically accounting for 35–45% of the country’s total seafood export value. With a well-developed farming, processing, and export system, Vietnam has become one of the world’s leading shrimp exporters.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) As geopolitical tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate, the global food market is facing increasing volatility in logistics costs, energy prices, and supply chains. In the seafood sector, alongside ocean-caught products such as tuna, the surimi-based product group—including fish cakes, crab sticks, fish balls, and other imitation seafood products—has also been affected to some extent by these developments.
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