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) 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.
VASEP - HIỆP HỘI CHẾ BIẾN VÀ XUẤT KHẨU THỦY SẢN VIỆT NAM
Chịu trách nhiệm: Ông Nguyễn Hoài Nam - Phó Tổng thư ký Hiệp hội
Đơn vị vận hành trang tin điện tử: Trung tâm VASEP.PRO
Trưởng Ban Biên tập: Bà Phùng Thị Kim Thu
Giấy phép hoạt động Trang thông tin điện tử tổng hợp số 138/GP-TTĐT, ngày 01/10/2013 của Bộ Thông tin và Truyền thông
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 – (ext.203); email: kimthu@vasep.com.vn
Trụ sở: Số 7 đường Nguyễn Quý Cảnh, Phường An Phú, Quận 2, Tp.Hồ Chí Minh
Tel: (+84) 28.628.10430 - Fax: (+84) 28.628.10437 - Email: vasephcm@vasep.com.vn
VPĐD: số 10, Nguyễn Công Hoan, Ngọc Khánh, Ba Đình, Hà Nội
Tel: (+84 24) 3.7715055 - Fax: (+84 24) 37715084 - Email: vasephn@vasep.com.vn