Compared with the same month of 2015, exports in Feb 2016 reported the highest growth of 52.3%. Exports in March, April, May 2016 reported smaller growth in which exports in Apr reached the lowest growth of 0.5%.
In Jan-May 2016, average import price into the U.S. reached US$9/kg compared to US$9.9/kg in Jan-May 2015. Specifically, the price of medium-sized peeled and deveined shrimp (the size found on many menus) in the U.S. market plunged to US$9.4/kg; much lower than US$15.5/kg in 2013 due to low harvests caused by disease outbreak. This price level was ideal for US restaurants to buy shrimp and stock up for year-end holiday menus and promotions.
Better outlook for the U.S. economy, USD’s strength stimulated local consumers’ spending. Besides, lower inventory and the larger number of consumers went to foodservices and restaurants in the summer that boosted the US’s demand for shrimp.
In the first months of 2015, the U.S. tend to import more black tiger shrimp. In Jan-May 2015, the proportion of black tiger shrimp exported to the U.S. accounted for 24% and whiteleg shrimp occupied 69%. As of May 2016, the proportion of black tiger increased by 3% to 27% and white shrimp increased by 1 % to 70%. During the period, out of shrimp products exported to the U.S., processed black tiger (HS 16) reported the largest increase of 164% over the first 5 months of 2015. In the US market, the price of some black tiger products from Vietnam as of July 1st 2016 is more competitive than those of rivals in the region (Indonesia, India, Malaysia). Specifically, Vietnam’s black tiger shrimp size 16/20 was priced at US$6.25/pound while black tiger with the same type from India and Malaysia have the price of US$6.60/pound; Vietnam’s black tiger shrimp count U-15 was quoted at US$8.30 while that of Indonesia was US$8.50/pound. The U.S. was the 2nd largest consumer market of Vietnam black tiger shrimp with the proportion of nearly 20%. Vietnam’s black tiger shrimp exports, especially HOSO black tiger to the U.S. are facilitated thanks to advantages of the supply on comparison with rivals.
As of May 2016, shrimp imports into the U.S. reached 218,480 MT, worth nearly US$2 billion; down 1% in volume and 10% in value compared to the same period of 2015. Indonesia is the largest supplier to the U.S., accounting for 22.3% of US’s total shrimp imports. It was followed by India and Thailand accounting for 20.9% and 13%, respectively. Vietnam ranked the 4th position, accounting for 12.4% of the market share.
|
Average price of shrimp imported into US (US$/kg) |
|||
|
Supply |
Jan-May 2015 |
Jan-May 2016 |
Variations(%) |
|
World |
10.1 |
9.4 |
-7.3 |
|
Indonesia |
10.8 |
9.5 |
-11.2 |
|
India |
10.6 |
9.8 |
-7.5 |
|
Ecuador |
7.9 |
7.8 |
-1.8 |
|
Thailand |
11.6 |
9.8 |
-15.9 |
|
Vietnam |
12.2 |
11.2 |
-8.2 |
|
China |
7.2 |
6.7 |
-7.3 |
Among top 5 largest suppliers of shrimp to the U.S., only Vietnam increased both the volume and value of shrimp exported to the U.S. with 13% and 2% in turn. Thailand raised 8% in export volume to U.S. while the volume of shrimp exported to the U.S. from India remain unchanged compared to the same period in 2015. Notably, shrimp exports from Ecuador to the U.S. fell the most in the top 5 suppliers for the U.S. The U.S. tend to reduce imports from Ecuador and raise imports from Asian suppliers such as Vietnam, India, Thailand and China because these suppliers can meet US’s demand for shrimp skewers with reasonable price. While Ecuador surged shrimp exports to China because of high demand and low import duty.
Thailand planned to raise shrimp exports to the U.S. due to decline in its market share in EU market caused by GSP lost from EU.
|
Top 5 largest shrimp suppliers to US, Jan-May 2016 (Value: US$ thousand, Volume: MT) |
|||||||||
|
Suppliers |
2015 |
Jan-May 2015 |
Jan-May 2016 |
Variations (%) |
|||||
|
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Value |
Volume |
Average import price (US$/kg) |
Value |
Volume |
|
|
World |
5,460,271 |
587,507 |
2,200,953 |
220,418 |
1,982,174 |
218,480 |
9 |
-10 |
-1 |
|
Indonesia |
1,100,983 |
114,494 |
508,528 |
49,212 |
442,253 |
47,529 |
9 |
-13 |
-3 |
|
India |
1,284,690 |
135,650 |
444,359 |
43,600 |
415,556 |
43,817 |
9 |
-6 |
-- |
|
Thailand |
755,512 |
73,883 |
285,600 |
25,778 |
261,526 |
27,810 |
9 |
-8 |
8 |
|
Vietnam |
663,730 |
60,893 |
241,120 |
20,230 |
246,437 |
22,925 |
11 |
2 |
13 |
|
Ecuador |
635,370 |
85,744 |
282,211 |
36,558 |
228,982 |
30,253 |
8 |
-19 |
-17 |
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia industry is maintaining strong growth momentum, with significant room for further expansion in the coming years. In 2025, total tilapia production reached approximately 420,000 tonnes, up 33% from 2024 and 2.2 times higher than in 2015. During 2015–2025, production grew at an average annual rate of around 8.4%. As production and exports continue to expand, food safety control is receiving increasing attention to ensure product quality, meet the increasingly stringent requirements of international markets, and provide a foundation for the sustainable development of Vietnam’s tilapia industry.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On the afternoon of August 19, 2026, as part of the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026, the Hosted Buyer Program continued with the seminar “Vietnam Seafood Outlook 2026–2027: A Strategic Sourcing Destination,” followed by 1-to-1 B2B meetings between international buyers and Vietnamese seafood businesses.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Speaking at the Opening Ceremony of VIETFISH 2026 on August 19 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC), U.S. Consul General Melissa Brown highlighted the important role of the exhibition in connecting Vietnam’s growing seafood industry with buyers, suppliers, and partners from the United States and around the world.
(vasep.com.vn) Tomorrow, August 19, 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition – Vietfish 2026 will officially open at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Center (SECC) in Ho Chi Minh City. Taking place over three days, from August 19–21, Vietfish 2026 promises to provide a dynamic platform for business networking, trend updates, product experiences and comprehensive cooperation across the domestic and international seafood community.
(vasep.com.vn) The global tilapia market continues to grow, creating significant opportunities for countries with strengths in aquaculture, processing, and exports. Against this backdrop, Vietnam’s tilapia industry is gradually developing toward higher quality, greater product diversification, and broader market reach. At Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), together with the VASEP Tilapia Producers and Exporters Club, will host a joint booth to promote the image and potential of Vietnamese tilapia to domestic and international buyers.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports are heading towards $12 billion this year, potentially the highest level on record. Yet one of the country’s export strengths is facing a growing list of challenges.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The first six months of 2026 indicate that Vietnam’s tilapia industry is entering a new phase of development, with strong export growth but also greater demands for production scale, quality and international competitiveness.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietfish 2026, the Vietnam International Seafood Exhibition, will officially take place from 19–21 August 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City. As Vietnam’s largest annual seafood trade event, organized by the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), Vietfish 2026 will once again bring together leading seafood companies, industry experts, and international partners from across the global seafood value chain.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports reached USD 1.1 billion in July 2026, up 4.8% compared to the same period in 2025. Cumulative exports in the first seven months of the year totaled nearly USD 6.86 billion, an increase of 11.5% year-on-year. Exceeding the USD 1 billion mark in July further reinforces the prospect that Vietnam’s seafood exports could surpass USD 12 billion in 2026. However, the July figures also send a clear signal that the most favorable growth period may have passed: overall export growth slowed to just 4.8%, pangasius exports fell 6.1%, tuna exports were virtually flat, while exports to the EU, South Korea, and the Middle East all recorded double-digit declines.
(vasep.com.vn) As part of the Vietnam Fisheries International Exhibition (Vietfish 2026), the seminar "Global Seafood Market and the Future Workforce: Trends, Opportunities, and Sustainable Development Pathways for Vietnam's Seafood Industry" will take place from 2:00 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. on August 19, 2026, at Convention Room B, Level 2, SECC, Ho Chi Minh City. This is the first of five specialized seminars at Vietfish 2026, focusing on key issues that are shaping the long-term development of Vietnam's seafood industry.
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