Clear signals from major exporting countries
Ecuador, traditionally known for exporting HOSO (head-on, shell-on) shrimp to China, has now accelerated its move into the processed product segment, particularly for the U.S. and EU markets. In June 2025, Ecuador exported a record 126,074 tons of shrimp, up 18% year-on-year. Exports to the U.S. reached 21,388 tons (+44%) and to the EU reached 28,617 tons (+42%).
Beyond volume growth, Ecuador has also strengthened exports of peeled, quick-cleaned, and processed products such as PD, PPV, and HLSO shrimp. The country’s value-added output surged from 127,980 tons in 2020 to 268,720 tons in 2022, doubling in just two years.
India, despite facing heavy U.S. anti-dumping duties (nearly 60%), has maintained positive shrimp export growth to the U.S. in the first seven months of this year. However, the pressure from the U.S. market has pushed Indian exporters to pivot toward the EU, where India is negotiating the removal of import restrictions starting October 2025. If successful, competition in the EU—especially in the ready-to-eat and processed segments—is expected to intensify.
Indonesia, meanwhile, faces significant challenges as 60% of its shrimp exports depend on the U.S. The country’s total exports in 2025 are projected to reach only around 220,000 tons. The newly imposed 19% U.S. tariff could cause a 30% export decline, forcing many expansion plans to halt. Indonesian exporters are now turning to China (which imports nearly 1 million tons per year) and the Middle East, but lower prices are squeezing profit margins.
Consumer demand reshaping the market
On the demand side, the U.S., EU, and China are showing a clear preference for value-added shrimp products.
Europe: Rapid growth in demand—particularly in Southern Europe—driven by younger consumers favoring convenient, ready-to-eat products, along with strict sustainability certification requirements.
China: Still self-sufficient for around 70% of domestic consumption but increasingly importing to diversify. Consumers there enjoy everything from frozen whole shrimp to ready-to-cook or ready-to-eat items.
United States: Continues to increase imports from Ecuador while imposing high tariffs on India, creating indirect opportunities for suppliers with transparent supply chains such as Vietnam.
This consumer shift is putting major pressure on exporters that still rely heavily on raw materials. Countries that invest early in processing capacity, product standardization, and international certifications will gain a competitive edge in the new landscape.
Opportunities and challenges for Vietnam
As a global processing hub, Vietnam faces both opportunities and challenges. Vietnamese shrimp processors have a total capacity of millions of tons per year, capable of supplying a wide range of products—from frozen blocks to cooked, breaded, and retail-packed value-added shrimp. This gives Vietnam a significant advantage in adapting to the ongoing trend.
However, major import markets such as the U.S. and EU are also tightening regulations on food safety and trade fraud prevention, creating new compliance burdens for exporters.
In the first eight months of 2025, Vietnam’s value-added shrimp exports (HS code 16) reached USD 1 billion, up 12% year-on-year, accounting for 34% of total shrimp export value. The main markets for Vietnam’s value-added shrimp include the U.S. (28% share), Japan (18%), and South Korea (8%).
The transition from raw shrimp to value-added products is accelerating rapidly. Ecuador stands as a vivid example, having increased both export volume and processing proportion to expand into the U.S. and EU. India and Indonesia are also being forced to adapt to retain their market shares.
This presents a crucial opportunity for Vietnam. By leveraging its strong processing base, enhancing supply chain transparency, complying with sustainability standards, and investing in product innovation, Vietnam can solidify its position as a global center for value-added shrimp processing.
In an era of fierce competition, the future of the shrimp industry will no longer rely on raw production volume—but on value-added innovation and sustainable branding.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The year 2025 marked a pivotal milestone for Vietnam’s seafood industry in its restructuring process toward sustainability, transparency, and higher value creation, amid continued uncertainties in the global economic and trade environment. Prolonged inflation in major economies, the rising trend of trade protectionism, and increasingly stringent requirements related to environmental standards, traceability, and social responsibility have posed significant challenges to seafood production and exports. Nevertheless, overcoming these pressures, Vietnam’s seafood sector has gradually demonstrated its adaptability, maintained growth momentum, and laid an important foundation for the next stage of development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Amid the increasingly evident impacts of drought and saltwater intrusion, the shrimp-rice production model in Ca Mau province continues to prove itself as a viable direction, contributing to higher farmer incomes, improved soil conditions and the promotion of ecological and sustainable agricultural development.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) The management of fishing vessels, monitoring of fishing activities, and handling of violations in the fisheries sector in Lam Dong province have continued to be implemented in a synchronized and stringent manner, contributing to raising awareness of legal compliance among fishermen and aiming to end illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Can Tho’s fishery industry sustained steady growth in 2025 with total aquatic and marine output reaching nearly 783,000 tons, fulfilling 100% of the annual target. Aquaculture, capture fisheries and fishing fleet management were further strengthened, aiming for sustainable development in the coming years.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s pangasius export turnover reached nearly USD 2.2 billion, up 8% year-on-year. This result indicates that pangasius exports maintained their growth momentum despite significant volatility in the global market environment. In December 2025, pangasius export value reached USD 200 million, up 10% compared to December 2024. This solid performance in the final month of the year reflects increased import demand for consumption and inventory replenishment in key markets.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In 2025, Vietnam’s tuna exports to Spain experienced significant fluctuations. According to Vietnam Customs, during the first 11 months of 2025, export turnover for the first 11 months of the year edged up by 0.3% year-on-year, reaching nearly $15 million.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son has signed Decision No. 16/QD-TTg, dated January 5, 2026, approving the implementation plan for the Vietnam-Israel Free Trade Agreement (VIFTA). Under the plan, in the coming period, ministries, ministerial-level agencies, government-affiliated entities and People’s Committees of provinces and centrally-run cities must institutionalize and execute tasks focused on the dissemination of information regarding VIFTA and the Israeli market; legislative and institutional development, as well as enhancing competitiveness and human resource growth...
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Beyond achieving double-digit growth, Vietnam’s fish cake and surimi exports are showing a notable year-end "inflection point": the EU his accelerating with nearly twofold growth, China & Hong Kong are rising sharply, while the largest market, South Korea, signaled a slowdown in November. According to Vietnam Customs data, export turnover of fish cake and surimi reached $327 million in the first 11 months of 2025, up 22% year-on-year; November 2025 alone accounted for $35 million, marking a 5% increase. This serves as a critical foundation for exporters to reassess market structures and competitive intensity while finalizing order strategies for 2026.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ca Mau, widely regarded as the nation’s “shrimp capital”, continued its strong performance in 2025 as shrimp output reached nearly 600,000 tons, maintaining its position as Vietnam’s leading shrimp-producing locality.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) On December 29, 2025, at the 2025 Pangasius Industry Review Conference held in Can Tho City, the Vietnam Pangasius Association announced that fingerling prices have surged to record levels due to acute supply shortages.
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