Up 18.5% in Vietnam shrimp exports

In the period, exports of whiteleg shrimp remained the large share of 63.2% of Vietnam’s total shrimp exports; while those of black tiger shrimp took up the proportion of 25.6% and those of marine shrimp were 11.2%. In particular, the export proportion of whiteleg shrimp and marine shrimp increased while that of black tiger shrimp decreased compared with the same period in 2016.

Sales of live/fresh/frozen whiteleg shrimp (HS code 03) showed the highest value of US$675.5 million.

During this period, the export value of Vietnam whiteleg shrimp went up 25% over the same period of 2016 to eye US$1.2 billion while exports of black tiger shrimp decreased by 5% to touch US$493.8 million.

Of that, exports of live/fresh/frozen other shrimp (HS code 03) recorded the highest increase of 138% while those of processed black tiger shrimp (HS code 16) saw the sharpest decrease of 31% year on year.

In Jan-Jul 2017, Japan outstripped the U.S to stay as the largest importer of Vietnam shrimp. In the first 7 months of this year, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to this market reached US$383.8 million; up 35.2% over the same period in 2016. Demand for seafood including shrimp in Japan from 2016 continuously increased. This was driven by a rise in Japanese yen and demand for seafood in the market as well as much improvement in quality and processing methods of Vietnam’s shrimp companies.

The EU held as the second largest importer of Vietnam shrimp, registering a 20.5% growth in shrimp imports from Vietnam as of July this year. Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the EU in this period hit US$380.6 million. Out of top 3 largest buyers in the bloc, exports to the UK and the Netherlands increased by 49.4% and 32.7% respectively; while those to Germany fell by 13.8%.

China ranked the third largest shrimp importer of Vietnam with the highest growth rate of 39.8% in top 10 leading markets of Vietnam shrimp. Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the market in July 2017 reported the 3-digit growth of 106.3%. The figure in the first 7 months of this year estimated to US$348.4 million.

China's shrimp output has been on a downward trend in recent years, while the demand for domestic consumption as well as processing  and re-exporting to other countries has been increasing. Thus, in the coming time, China continues a potential market of Vietnam export enterprises.

Moreover, the number of people in the middle class in China increased and expected to continue the rise in the coming time, which leads to the higher demand for high protein foods, especially shrimp or fish.

The U.S dropped to the 4th rank from the 1st rank in top Vietnam shrimp importers. Shipments to this market in the first 7 months reached US$344.7 million, down 5.5% year on year.

In the first 7 months of this year, demand for Vietnam shrimp in Asian markets tended to grow strongly. In the last months of the year, Vietnam’s shrimp exports to the region projected to go on the possitive growth.