In 2024, shrimp exports capitalized on the recovery of demand and import prices in the U.S. and China, leading to significant growth in exports to these two major markets. Moreover, shrimp exporters have maintained a strong presence in markets like Japan, South Korea, and the EU, thanks to the reputation and quality of their products, as well as the added value of processed shrimp products.
Free trade agreements have also provided a competitive edge, boosting shrimp exports to markets like the UK, Canada, Australia, and Singapore.
China & Hong Kong
After a decline in Q2 2024, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China & Hong Kong rebounded strongly in Q3 and Q4. In Q4 2024, exports to this market surged by 69%, reaching USD 258 million. For the entire year, shrimp exports to China & Hong Kong totaled USD 843 million, a 39% increase compared to 2023. Due to this strong growth, China & Hong Kong surpassed the U.S., becoming Vietnam’s largest shrimp export market.
The domestic shrimp supply in China has decreased due to unfavorable weather conditions, and Ecuador has also reduced shrimp exports to China in 2024. In response, China has introduced various measures to boost consumer spending, which supports the importation of shrimp into the market.
In 2024, in the structure of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to China & Hong Kong, other types of shrimp accounted for the largest share (51.7%), largely due to a significant increase in imports of lobster from Vietnam. Whiteleg shrimp followed with 36.1%, and black tiger shrimp accounted for 12.2%.
United States
In 2024, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the U.S. reached USD 756 million, an 11% increase compared to 2023. Throughout 2024, exports to the U.S. showed positive growth in all four quarters, except for a slight dip in Q2. Exports to this market accelerated in the second half of the year.
In 2024, whiteleg shrimp continued to dominate the product structure of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the U.S., making up 84.3% of the total. Black tiger shrimp followed with 9.3%, while other types of shrimp made up the remaining portion.
The top three shrimp exporters to the U.S. were Sóc Trăng Seafood JSC, Sao Ta Food JSC, and Clean Seafood JSC.
Japan
In 2024, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to Japan reached USD 517 million, a 1% increase compared to 2023. After declining in the first two quarters of 2024, shrimp exports to Japan rebounded in Q3 and Q4, though growth remained modest.
From mid-Q3 2024, the Japanese Yen strengthened significantly, improving purchasing power. Additionally, Vietnam’s main competitor in the Japanese market, India, faced controversies over the use of child labor, which led Japanese importers to favor Vietnamese shrimp.
European Union
In 2024, shrimp exports to the EU reached USD 484 million, a 15% increase compared to 2023. The top three import markets within the EU were Germany, the Netherlands, and Belgium. Exports to these three markets all saw double-digit growth, with the Netherlands recording the highest growth rate of 22% in 2024.
In the structure of Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU in 2024, whiteleg shrimp continued to dominate, accounting for 80.6%, followed by black tiger shrimp at 12.2%, with other types of shrimp making up the rest.
Some of the leading companies exporting shrimp to the EU include Thong Thuan Cam Ranh Seafood JSC, Thuan Phuoc Seafood and Trading JSC, Nha Trang Seafoods - F17 JSC, and Minh Phu-Hau Giang Seafood JSC.
South Korea
In 2024, shrimp exports to South Korea reached USD 334 million, a 3% decrease compared to 2023. Vietnam's shrimp exports to South Korea continue to be affected by the country’s shrimp import quotas, with companies facing substantial costs to secure these quotas.
According to ITC data, South Korea's shrimp imports in the first 11 months of 2024 totaled USD 723 million, up 3% compared to the same period in 2023. Vietnam remains the largest shrimp supplier to South Korea, with a dominant market share of 46%. China ranks second with a 10% market share. In the first 11 months of 2024, South Korea increased shrimp imports from Peru, China, and Canada.
(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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