Shrimp is an export item fetching the highest earnings for Vietnam seafood industry. Vietnam shrimp is shipped to almost 90 countries and territories with annual export turnover of US$2 billion. Majority of shrimp processing plants in Vietnam comply with international standards and create hundreds of thousands of jobs and stable income for local people.
The U.S. is the second largest importer of Vietnam shrimp after Japan with annual export value to the market of over US$500 million, occupying nearly one-quarter of total shrimp exports nationwide. Vietnam shrimp facilities are inspected twice a year and well-evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Shrimp facilities of Vietnam are certified as safe by international certification organizations and abide by the strict measures of food safety control from material purchasing to processing, preserving and exporting. Thanks to ensuring food safety and premium quality compared to shrimp products of other origins, Vietnam shrimp exported to the U.S. reported continuous growth for the past many years.
Only by visiting a small company, the writers of the article concluded that Vietnam shrimp, a large amount of which is exported to the U.S, is dirty and contaminated with bacteria. This viewpoint on Vietnam shrimp industry is so biased and mistaken. The article may satisfy the U.S domestic shrimpers and the U.S. government in protecting its shrimp sector and curb shrimp importing in the wake of the U.S. financial crisis. However, the action is against the spirit of free trade and fairness.
Vietnam shrimp maybe is badly affected by the article and the U.S. market may limit importing shrimp from Vietnam, shrimp enterprises in Vietnam will retain our positive image and ceaselessly improve shrimp quality to keep exporting to other markets.
In October 11th 2012, Ubcomtell.com posted video (Bloomberg hit piece on imported seafood misses huge improvements made in China, Vietnam) denying the article’s information. In the video, John Sackton, editor and publisher of Seafood.com News said that the article only mentions to the facts of a small company and cannot reflect comprehensively seafood quality of Vietnam. In fact, the quality of Vietnam seafood exported to the U.S. has improved remarkably. According to Safety Alerts on food imported to the U.S. by FDA, seafood consignments exported to the U.S. from Vietnam and China were rejected to approve for customs clearance reduced by 57 percent compared to the same period of last year while total rejections to the U.S. only reduced 11 percent.
John Sackton said that the article may make American consumers misunderstand about the quality of imported shrimp. The viewpoint of the article supports for domestic shrimp producers in the U.S. because their profit has been affected by imported shrimp. He stressed that data on seafood consignments of Vietnam and China rejected by FDA proved that the Vietnam seafood quality is being improved remarkably.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s seafood exports in September 2026 are estimated at US$1.135 billion, up 11.9% year-on-year, bringing total exports in the first nine months of the year to US$9.103 billion, up 11.4%. Behind this double-digit growth, however, increasingly divergent market trends are emerging: China–Hong Kong and ASEAN posted strong growth, while the U.S., EU and Japan all recorded declines in September.
(vasep.com.vn) In the first eight months of 2026, Brazil became the largest market for Vietnamese tilapia, with export value reaching US$44 million, up 22,142% year-on-year and accounting for 49% of Vietnam’s total tilapia exports. In August alone, exports to Brazil reached US$4 million. However, behind this remarkable growth is a market that is imposing increasingly stringent requirements on imported supplies.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tuna exports sustained their upward trajectory in August 2026, though the pace remained modest at just 2%. The month saw divergent trends across key markets: the US maintained its leading position, Japan and Canada improved, Russia surged and the EU continued to experience a steep downturn. These developments suggest that exporters are entering the final months of the year amid a market environment marked by greater uncertainty.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Congalsa has acquired the entire charter capital of Lenger Seafood Vietnam, giving it full ownership of the business and its Nam Dinh processing facility.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) Ninh Binh Province is entering a peak period of action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, focusing on thoroughly addressing violations, closely monitoring fishing vessels at ports and preventing vessels from violating regulations and operating illegally in foreign waters ahead of the European Commission’s (EC) upcoming inspection in 2026.
(vasep.com.vn) The application of biotechnology in seed production is increasingly viewed as a strategic imperative to upgrade pangasius fingerling quality, optimize farming efficiency and anchor sustainable industry development.
(vasep.com.vn) On September 15, 2026, in Can Tho, VASEP and ASC jointly organized a training course titled “New ASC standards: updates and practical implementation guidance for farms, businesses and aquafeed mills”. Beyond briefing stakeholders on updated ASC requirements for aquaculture facilities and feed production, the workshop dedicated substantial floor time to directly addressing on-the-ground compliance bottlenecks encountered by Vietnamese enterprises.
(searfood.vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s tilapia exports continued to post positive results in the first eight months of 2026, with total export value reaching US$90 million, up 43% year-on-year. However, exports in August alone stood at US$11 million, down 8%, reflecting uneven market developments. Brazil remained the leading market, while Japan recorded notable growth, opening up new opportunities for Vietnamese tilapia products.
(vasep.com.vn) Vietnam’s shrimp exports reached US$3.3 billion in the first eight months of 2026, up 12% year on year. However, growth has begun to slow and become more differentiated across markets, while the U.S. and EU continue to present significant challenges. The latest insights from the Global Shrimp Forum 2026 (GSF 2026), held in early September, also indicate that the final months of the year will remain highly competitive as global supply continues to expand and buyers increasingly focus on quality, product specifications, supply stability and the ability to meet market-specific demand.
(seafood.vasep.com.vn) In August 2026, Vietnam’s seafood exports reached $1.14 billion, up 6% year on year. Cumulative eight-month exports rose 11.8% to $8.00 billion, though momentum has cooled compared to the 12.8% growth seen through July. China - Hong Kong and ASEAN are offsetting weakness in the U.S, EU and partly Japan. This divergence will likely widen in Q4 as trade tariffs and traceability requirements directly weigh on new orders.
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